TURA: The Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party has suffered a shocking blow with its former legislator from Baghmara deciding to switch over to the BJP taking along his supporters and party workers.
Former MLA and parliamentary secretary Satto R Marak will join BJP in Baghmara on Thursday and in a show of strength will also bring along a number of party leaders, workers and supporters from Baghmara constituency into the BJP in a formal entry.
This is the second defection within the NPP ranks in less than 24 hours.
Another party ticket contender for Rangsakona constituency, Pilne A Sangma resigned on the same day, citing personal reasons.
Party sources indicate that Sangma’s decision to resign was because the NPP is due to nominate Subir Marak for the party ticket to contest against Congress heavyweight minister Zenith Sangma.
In the case of Baghmara too, the NPP is preparing to announce sitting GHADC MDC from Wagesik, Sengnal N Sangma as their candidate to take on sitting Independent legislator Samuel Sangma.
“I was informed by our president Conrad Sangma that the party has decided to allocate the ticket to the sitting MDC. I had worked tirelessly for the party and nurtured my area in the past four years. I am left with no option but to leave,” Satto Marak told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
He revealed he would be joining the BJP along with his supporters and NPP workers including the party’s president and general secretary of Baghmara constituency.
“My supporters have advised me to join the BJP seeing the development work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. I believe the BJP will do more for the development of Baghmara when it comes to power in the state after next year’s elections,” said Marak.
Marak was one of the most noticeable faces of PA Sangma’s party in South Garo Hills district. He won Baghmara seat in a by-election in early 2008 after sitting Congress MLA Sengran Sangma died while on the campaign trail leading to a countermand of the polls.
In the by-poll Marak as the NCP candidate defeated Late Sengran Sangma’s son and Congress candidate Arjun.
