Shillong, Sept 04: Nationalist Congress Party leader Purno A Sangma
has accused the ruling Congress in Meghalaya of attempting to 'lure
away' its MLAs with lucrative offers, but said it would not succeed.

"The Congress is trying desperately with many offers to tempt the
NCP MLAs. It is their habit and they will continue to do so," he
told reporters last night after attending a meeting of the NCP state
unit.

Sangma exuded confidence that the party MLAs would withstand the
offer and remain united and intact. "The Congress is only spending
sleepless night," he quipped.

Recently an associate NCP MLA joined Congress and was immediately
inducted into the Lapang government as a parliamentary secretary
with the rank of Minister of State.

The ruling Congress, however, denied the charge of weaning away the
NCP MLAs into its fold.

Asked if there was any chances of his joining the BJP, Sangma ruled
out any such possibility because of 'ideologically' opposite stand.

"There is no question of my joining BJP. We are ideologically
opposed to the party," the former Lok Sabha speaker said.


BK