The National People's Party (NPP) has sought strengthening of security cover for its president Purno A Sangma accusing Chief Minister and Congress leader Mukul Sangma of threatening the former Lok Sabha speaker, a party source said here today.
"Based on the threat of the Chief Minister, the security cover for our leader P A Sangma should be increased with immediate effect," NPP secretary IB Pandey said in his letter (dated March 25) to Chief Election Commission of India.
He alleged the Chief Minister has directly threatened Sangma by predicting his death and which was published in a local daily earlier this month.
Terming the Chief Minister's comments as 'derogatory', Pandey also sought 'appropriate' action against him.
He also said the statement made by the Chief Minister 'reinforced' the party's demand for the use of VVPAT machines in the upcoming elections alleging that "such a person could go to any extent" to win the elections.
The ECI is likely to use VVPAT EVMs in the Tura Lok Sabha constituency for which P A Sangma is pitted against a young Daryl Momin of the Congress mentored by Mukul Sangma.
Returning officer for Tura seat, Pravin Bakshi, said he is yet to be intimated in this regard although the Supreme Court has ordered the use of such machines in a phased manner.
