TURA: Two former legislators and senior NPP functionaries in Garo Hills have resigned from the party after being denied tickets to contest the Assembly elections early next year.
Former MLAs of Kharkutta and Bajengdoba, Omillo K Sangma and John Manner Marak, have tendered their resignation from NPP. They are expected to join BJP in a public rally organised to welcome them at Mendal village under Bajengdoba constituency on Friday. BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh is also expected to attend the function.
BJP appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the ongoing bickering for party tickets in NPP. Only recently, a former NPP MLA from Baghmara, Satto R Marak, resigned after being denied the party ticket and joined BJP.
Both the disgruntled leaders accused NPP president and Tura MP Conrad K Sangma of autocratic rule.
Omillo equated his party president’s functioning with that of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and said that founder members were being mistreated and denied tickets which he claimed would only lead to the party’s downfall.
“His style of functioning has forced him to abandon party founders and induct a new NPP (Non Permanent Party) (with members) like HS Shylla, Brening Sangma and Augustine Marak who are rolling ex-MLAs,” Omillo stated in his resignation letter.
Recalling how he had built the party, John said he along with PA Sangma had worked hard to build NCP, and later NPP, in Garo Hills.
“I left my parent party UDP after PA Sangma invited me to join him and build a new party. Now I am being cast aside and denied a ticket by his son,” he said.
Omillo had defeated the then Kharkutta strongman and Congress leader, Elstone D Marak in the 2008 elections while John had defeated senior Congress minister and heavyweight, Chamberline Marak in Bajengdoba.
However, neither of the two could retain their seats in the 2013 elections with sitting Bolsong MDC and Independent candidate, Brigady Marak defeating John and Congress candidate Cherak Momin defeating Omillo.
