Independent MDC moves into ruling NPP fold in GHADC
TURA: The National People’s Party of Late P A Sangma which is running the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in an alliance with the BJP and the Garo National Council (GNC) has further strengthened its position after Independent MDC from Jengjal Levastone T Sangma joined the alliance raising its strength to 19 members in a current house of 29 elected representatives.
The NPP had emerged the single largest party in the 2015 council polls after bagging ten seats followed by Congress 7, GNC 3, BJP 1, NCP 1 and 7 Independents.
The BJP which began its innings in the GHADC with just one member in 2015 elections is now competing with the opposition Congress to secure the position of second largest party after four MDCs joined their ranks recently. Two independents, Kurosh Marak and Sofiur Rahman, NCP member Rightious Sangma and Congress member Ismail Marak had joined the BJP recently raising the party tally to five. Bhupendra Hajong was the lone BJP candidate to secure a win from Zikzak during the 2015 council polls.
The Congress which bagged the second position with seven elected members saw an erosion of its ranks after Naguapara MDC Dhormonath Sangma left the party and joined the NPP.
The recent exit of Ismail Marak further dented the grand old party though there has been some consolation with the Tura Independent MDC Rupert Sangma extending support.
Like the other autonomous councils in the north eastern region, the three district councils in Meghalaya do not have the Anti-Defection Law implemented to prevent shifting of allegiances.
There are worrying signs for the NPP which is leading the alliance that the BJP could raise its demand for more cabinet berths (Executive members) since it now has five MDCs. Currently the BJP has just one portfolio- water resources headed by Bhupendra Hajong.
Insiders claim the BJP could put up a hard bargain for more portfolios which could be at the cost of both the NPP and the current GNC. The post of deputy chief executive member (Dy CEM) is presently with the GNC MDC Augustine Marak.
The maximum number of executive posts that can be held in the GHADC stands at eleven after the recent expansion with the NPP having the largest representation while the GNC and the BJP have each been allotted one berth.