TURA: Three rebel Congress MDCs in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) have been rewarded with ministerial berths for switching alliance as the Dipul Marak-led Executive Committee of the NPP got a go-ahead from the governor to appoint its executive members (EMs).
Out of the 11 positions, including that of the chief executive member, NPP, the largest party in the Garo Hills Progressive Alliance, has retained five while three Congress MDCs who defected found their names on the list of executive members. The BJP has been given two EM positions and the NCP one.
The senior-most NPP MDC representing Damas constituency in North Garo Hills, Dolly K Sangma, has been elevated to the position of Deputy CEM. He replaces Wenison Ch Marak of the GNC who held that position during the Congress EC headed by Boston Marak.
The other NPP MDCs who have been made executive members are Sukharam K Sangma of Rongrong constituency in North Garo Hills, Brilliant R Sangma of Samandagre (Songsak) and Sengnal N Sangma of Wagesik (Baghmara).
Nripendro Koch, the senior Congress MDC from Betasing in South West Garo Hills district, has also been made an executive member. He hails from former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his brother Zenith Sangma’s bastion.
Another Congress MDC Dhormonath Ch Sangma from Naguapara (Tikrikilla) and Jogonsing D Sangma from Bolsong (Bajengdoba) have found a berth in the executive committee.
The lone NCP MDC to make it to the list is Righteous N Sangma from Babelapara constituency (Gambegre) in West Garo Hills.
The BJP, which is in alliance with the NPP in the GHADC, has been given two EM positions. Kurosh M Marak of Barengapara (Dalu) and Bhupendra B Hajong of Zikzak (Mahendraganj) have also made it to the Executive Committee.
The portfolios of the new EMs are expected to be handed out by the end of this week, inform GHADC sources.
The previous Boston Marak-led EC backed by the Congress collapsed after a majority of its MDCs switched over to NPP soon after the Assembly election results threw a fractured mandate and NPP cobbled up a coalition with Conrad K Sangma as the new state chief minister leaving the Congress in the opposition camp.
In a house of 29 directly elected MDCs, Boston was left with less than 10 MDCs with the remaining crossing over to the NPP camp.
