GHADC EC: Ind MDCs burst NPP bubble

TURA, OCT 17: In a major blow to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Executive Committee (EC) hopeful National People’s Party (NPP), three Independent MDCs who had pledged their support to the party have done a ‘U turn’ by reneging on their promise by deciding not to align with the NPP.

Bolstered by its success by bagging 10 seats in the 29-member GHADC, the NPP on Friday had formed the   Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) along with the three Garo National Council (GNC) MDCs, one BJP and the three Independents Mark Goera Marak from Batabari, Devier Sangma from Gasuapara and Kurosh Marak from Dalu.

It is reported that Independent MDC Sofiur Rahman is also in constant touch with the NPP leadership and many sees this as an precursor to his joining the NPP led GHPA.

Bracing to form the next GHADC EC, the NPP had even decided Friday to make its working president and former finance minister Conrad Sangma as its CEM and get him nominated as an MDC as he did not contest the GHADC polls.

Just a step away from scripting history in Meghalaya by making a nominated MDC as the CEM, the NPP is obviously crestfallen now after the three Independents decided not to join the NPP led bandwagon GHPA.

Independent MDCs in GHADC who have won seven seats will inevitable play the kingmaker and now it depends on the political dexterity of either the NPP or Congress to get their support.

Realizing that they have the magic wand to either make or break the GHADC EC, six of the seven Independent MDCs on Saturday met at Tura MDC Rupert M. Sangma’s residence.

In what appears to be a populist decision, the  six independent MDCs have decided not to support any party that has non-tribal MDCs in its fold.

NPP candidate SG Esmatur Mominin, who belongs to non-indigenous community,  had won Shyamnagar seat and the Independents are not willing to accept him as people have been strongly raising their pitch against non-indigenous people’s participation in district council.

The NPP led alliance is left with 14 MDCs two sort of majority.-From Our Correspondent