Shillong, Jan 16: The Nationalist Congress Party lambasted the ruling Congress for not giving due respect to the party despite being a coalition partner in Meghalaya in the last five years.

“We were (partners) only in paper with the Congress government. Congress used us because they needed the number but they did not give any due respect,” NCP national general secretary, Praful Patel told reporters here on Tuesday.

Speaking to media persons after laying a foundation stone for the construction of the NCP office here, Patel rejected of entering into an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming elections.

“We have no alliance with national parties but we will have some understanding with regional parties,” Patel said.

He said that the NCP would contest in at least 22 of 24 seats in Garo Hills and around 20 seats of 36 seats the Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills.

The NCP had two MLAs – Sanbor Shullai from South Shillong and Marthon Sangma from Mendipathar – in the 60-member Assembly who supported the Congress-led government.

However, Shullai had resigned as MLA and joined the BJP while Marthon Sangma is all set to join the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

Patel said that Shullai was supposed to be made a minister after he was asked to resign from the post of deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 2015, but the Congress did not do what it has promised.

When asked why the two NCP MLAs did not withdraw support from the Congress government, Patel however said there was no reason to do anything (withdraw support) since the party was not part of the government and was not given any role in the government.

Patel also slammed both Sanbor Shullai and Marthon Sangma for not doing anything for the state.

“They have done nothing for the NCP’s growth in Meghalaya and despite of associating with the ruling party, they have not used their position to do anything for the state or for their constituencies,” he said.

He expressed confidence that in Meghalaya, a lot of changes would take place in the upcoming elections, and assured that the NCP under the leadership of Saleng A. Sangma as president in the state would do good work for the people.

The NCP leader alleged that Meghalaya has seen “mis-governance of the highest order” under the Congress rule and the people of Meghalaya were disillusioned with the ruling party, and looking for a change.

He also said that schemes launched by the present government including the health insurance scheme were a total failure, and the money could have been used to upgrade hospitals, clinics, provide quality healthcare with sufficient medicines, diagnostic centres across the state rather than this scheme.

On education, he said students of Meghalaya have been facing problems, and as a consequence, their career and employment opportunities suffered in a big way.

Stating that the Congress government has failed to provide good governance, Patel pointed out pending problems such as boundary dispute, issues related to mining, road infrastructure, lack of proper scheme and funding.