‘Role of autonomous institutions weakening’

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, May 12: Meghalaya leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma on Sunday said that the role of various autonomous institutions in the country, which is crucial to sustain democracy, has been weakened in the last five years.

“These (institutions) are losing their relevance. Earlier one never doubted the credibility of the Election Commission,” Dr Sangma said.

Many Opposition leaders across the country have alleged that many government agencies, including the Election Commission, have been compromising during the last five years.

The Leader of Opposition also pointed out to the recent observation of the Supreme Court, which had expressed anguish at the “systematic attempts to malign” the judiciary and “remote-control” it through “money power or political power”, resolving to send out a message that the courts are not “vulnerable”.

Meanwhile, Dr Sangma also predicted that the secular parties will form the government at the Centre.

“It would be a hung Parliament but there will be a consolidation of secular formation,” he said.

The Leader of Opposition also said that the Congress would win both the Tura and Shillong LS seats from Meghalaya. Dr Sangma had contested from the Tura seat against NPP’s Agatha K Sangma and BJP’s Rikman G Momin.