Ex-GHADC chief joins UDP

TURA: Former GHADC CEM Boston Marak, who was expelled from NPP last year, has joined the regional United Democratic Party.
Boston, who engineered the collapse of the Denang T Sangma-led NPP alliance in the GHADC a year ago, was welcomed into the UDP on Saturday by the party’s leaders from the Garo Hills region.
Utpal Arengh, the UDP’s state vice president, Garo Hills general secretary Utzol Sangma, state joint secretary Lindin Momin and state youth joint secretary Anand Marak welcomed Boston into the party fold.
With Boston’s entry, the regional party will get a representation in the council and Garo Hills where it had drawn a blank in the last two elections.
“I joined the UDP because I wanted to be part of a party that stands for the progress of the state,” said Boston.
“We are looking at ways to further strengthen the party at the grassroots level in Garo Hills,” said Utzol.
Interestingly, despite Boston pulling the rug from under the feet of then CEM Denang T Sangma to topple the NPP Executive Committee, he was sidelined by the Congress when it came to ticket distribution for the Assembly polls. The Congress selected sitting legislator from Salmanpara Winnerson D Sangma who got re-elected.
“Our party had a poor performance during the last assembly elections in the Garo Hills region. Now that the UDP is part of the ruling alliance we want to ensure Garo Hills is able to make a large contribution next time,” said Anand.
In the light of the poor show in the February polls, UDP, which had entered a pre-poll alliance with GNC, has dissolved all of its previous committees, preferring to currently open only three sections in the region — general, women’s wing and youth wing. UDP has selected Golding R Sangma as president and Tilbert A Sangma as secretary of the Garo Hills unit.
In the women’s wing, Dr Jova Ch Marak has been made president, Smera Sangma working president and L K Gracy secretary.
The youth wing of the party is to be led by Lyon Ch Marak as president and Jimberth Ch Momin as secretary.