TURA: Former legislator of Baghmara Satto R Marak officially joined BJP on Thursday and brought into the national party dozens of NPP workers.
NPP suffered another setback in the area with former GHADC MDC Millan R Sangma and his supporters also joining BJP along with Marak.
“Around 1,200 NPP supporters from Baghmara constituency also merged with BJP along with us on Thursday,” said Marak.
The Conrad Sangma-led NPP has suffered a blow in its bastion in Baghmara where it has been gaining a strong foothold over the last three years.
The party had swept the last district council elections in Baghmara region with a young candidate, Sengkal N Sangma, trouncing senior Congress candidate and sitting MDC Freederson Sangma in Wagesik constituency.
Marak was one of the most noticeable faces of NPP in South Garo Hills.
The former NPP leader won Baghmara seat in a by-election in 2008 after sitting Congress MLA Sengran Sangma died while on the campaign trail.
In the bypolls, Marak as NCP candidate defeated late Sengran Sangma’s son and Congress candidate Arjun.