GHADC Polls
TURA: As Garo Hills reaches the peak of campaigning for the GHADC polls this week, the political rivals-Congress and NPP– are hoping the voters repose faith on them for another tenure in the autonomous body.
Both parties are pulling out all the stops to present their case before the electorate and convince them to do the bidding in their favour when polling day arrives on October 12.
The Congress is banking on the time tested formula of development as its leaders and party workers tour the length and breadth of the 29 constituencies where polls are going to take place.
“We have always stressed on development agenda and our efforts to bring peace to the troubled region. The people have seen our good work. We are optimistic they will return us to the Council,” said working president of the Congress and Cabinet Minister, Deborah C Marak while speaking to The Shillong Times in Williamnagar.
The senior Congress minister has been overseeing the party election machinery in the East Garo Hills district, vigorously touring the villages to garner support for her candidates.
The opposition NPP, however, sees a different picture to the Council scenario and blames the Congress for the mess the autonomous body is currently neck deep in.
“There is an anti-incumbency factor prevailing in this elections on account of the widespread corruption perpetrated by the ruling MDCs from the Congress. People are witnessing everything. Do you think they will forgive the Congress for bringing the GHADC to such a state?” questioned working president of the NPP, Conrad K Sangma.
When it was pointed out that some of the current MDCs accused of misappropriation had been elected on a party ticket of P A Sangma in 2009, Conrad Sangma shot back, “Yes it’s true that they contested on a ticket from our previous party NCP but they parted ways when they realized that there is no room for corruption in our party.”
Revamping of the Council administration and putting a stop to the widespread corruption in the autonomous body are two issues both political opponents seem to agree upon this time.
“There is no doubt a complete overhauling of the Council is required and only the Congress can do that. We have always been in favour of improving the GHADC and if given a chance this time, we will do it. That is one of the main reasons why we have initiated many developmental projects through the district council to benefit the people living in the rural areas,” said Deborah Marak while adding that restoration of peace and improvement of the law and order situation in Garo Hills remains a core issue of the Congress.
The NPP is not buying into the Congress story as it sharpens the attack on its bitter rival.
“The law and order situation in Garo Hills has fallen so drastically that there are killings and kidnappings every single day. Isn’t the Congress to blame? After all they are running the state and were in control of the GHADC,” pointed out NPP leader Conrad Sangma.
He said that widespread corruption and an attempt at tabling the controversial codification of Garo customary laws to benefit the family of a particular politician had fueled resentment among the public and the voters.
“We are taking the core issues of corruption and the attempt by the last executive committee of GHADC to tamper with the Garo customary laws into the public domain. Voters are being made aware of the move to dilute the tribal laws to suit people who are not genuine tribal. People are angry about corruption because development from the district council side has failed to percolate into the most backward areas of Garo Hills despite crores of rupees being sanctioned by the Central Government to the MDC constituencies for development projects,” said the NPP working president.
As D-Day approaches both parties will be keeping their fingers crossed in the hope their messages have gone down well with the electorate.