Dy chairman accused of manipulating signatures
TURA: A signature campaign moved by the opposition MDCs of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to try and table a resolution seeking the ouster of the council chairman Denang T Sangma has been met with a roadblock after three MDCs, whose names were included in the list, denied giving their consent.
While the ruling NPP-led alliance MDCs has accused the Deputy Chairman and BJP MDC, Mettrinson G Momin, of “foul play” and spearheading the campaign to allegedly manipulate the signatures of members who were not a party to the ouster attempt.
In a scathing attack on the deputy chairman, three MDCs from the ruling NPP alliance, whose signatures were included in the list, have distanced themselves amid charges of false claims and foul play levelled against Momin.
On Wednesday, the three MDCs approached the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh denying giving any consent to the move.
“We are not a signatory to the letter submitted on February 11 to the deputy chairman pertaining to the confidence lost in Chairman Denang T Sangma. The list of the MDCs and signatures enclosed in the letter was an old one obtained for other purposes. They enclosed the list without our consent,” stated MDCs Dormonath Ch Sangma of Naguapara and Smith M Momin of Kharkutta constituency in their separate letters to the deputy commissioner.
They have urged the deputy commissioner not to forward their names to the governor and the District Council Affairs department over the resolution moved by the opposition to seek removal of the chairman.
The third MDC, Devier M Sangma of Baghmara, whose elder brother is a sitting legislator and allied to the current NPP led government in the state, has also denied giving his signature and supporting the opposition move.
The opposition in the district council, which includes MDCs from both the Congress and BJP, are pressing for a resolution seeking the removal of the chairman accusing him of lowering the prestige and respect of the GHADC. Prior to the three MDCs denial, the opposition had claimed to have the support of 18 out of 30 MDCs on their side.
Meanwhile, ruling alliance MDC and former Deputy Chief Executive Member Augustine Marak has accused the deputy chairman of putting out the names of MDCs all by himself.