TURA, April 19: The newly-elected house of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has begun its function with the swearing in of all 29 elected members on Monday morning by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh.
The oath taking of the new MDCs began with Siju MDC Arbinush Marak of the NPP and ended with Alphonsush Marak of the Congress from Williamnagar.
Prominent among the newly elected members were designated CEM and Raksamgre NPP MDC, Benedic R Marak, Chairman-in-waiting Rakesh A Sangma of the NPP from Babelapara seat, former MLAs and newly-elected Congress MDCs Ashahel D Shira from Batabari seat and Cherak W Momin from Kharkutta seat, Arbinush Marak (Independent) who defeated NPP CEM Dipul R Marak from Rochonpara and two brothers-in-law of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma — Grahambell A Sangma from Jengjal and Anseng A Sangma from Asanang (both NPP). The two BJP MDCs — Pramod Koch and Bernard Marak — were also administered the oath.
The lone woman MDC to return to the GHADC for a second term was Sadhiarani M Sangma from Dengnakpara, wife of Congress leader Zenith Sangma, who took her oath after Boldamgre MDC Stevie Marak of the Congress. Non-tribal MDC Akthar Ali (Independent ) from Zikzak took his oath in Garo, having rehearsed the lines in time for his swearing in, while Betasing Congress MDC Sanjay Koch had to be assisted by the DC in completing his oath.
Other notable MDCs in the oath taking ceremony included the lone Garo National Council MDC from Rongrikimgre, Nikman Ch Marak, who is set to become the new Deputy CEM.
A young Agassi Marak, Congress MDC from Balachanda, has taken on the mantle left behind by his late father and Congress minister Clement Marak.
The election for the post of Chairman is due to take place on Wednesday morning and the NPP-led alliance has already selected Babelapara MDC Rakesh A Sangma for the contest who achieved the “giant killer” tag after defeating sitting Gambegre MLA and NCP state chief, Saleng A Sangma.
‘ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITY’
Peeved with the move by its new Barengapara MDC, Pramod Koch, to align with the NPP led alliance in the GHADC, members of the Tura City District Committee (TCDC) of the BJP have threatened to resign en masse demanding his expulsion from the party.
Koch gave his endorsement to the NPP-led Garo Hills Democratic Coalition (GHDC) to form the new EC in the GHADC citing a direction from the BJP high command, much against the wishes of state BJP president Ernest Mawrie and Tura MDC Bernard Marak.
In a statement issued here on Monday, general secretary of the BJP’s TCDC, Wilbur Greham M Danggo, alleged that Koch had betrayed the A’chik people and demanded that he be sacked from the BJP.
“We, the members of the BJP, Tura City District Committee, under which Koch was elected as an MDC, have found his actions amounting to anti-party activities as he did not stand with the party principles and ideology. He has gone against the party manifesto by joining the GHDC without our consent,” Danggo said while demanding action against him.
Danggo further threatened that all TCDC members as well as Karyakarthas would resign en masse if no action was taken against him.
CHARGES AGAINST MAWRIE
Meanwhile, the BJP National Council member, Bashailang Kongwir, has also reiterated that state BJP president Ernest Mawrie has sidelined several senior leaders from Garo Hills while giving the ticket to the candidates.
He said that Mawrie should have held a consultation before allotting the tickets, while informing that there are complaints from winning aspirants who were not given party ticket.
“If Mawrie wants to run the party in progressive direction, then he should have consulted and kept all leaders intact but however Mawrie has failed to do so,” he said.
Terming the result of GHADC as an eye opener for Meghalaya BJP as Congress has emerged victorious, which the central leadership is wary of and do not want the rise of Congress, he informed that a delegation of senior leaders will soon meet the leaders at the Centre to apprise them of the present affairs of BJP in Meghalaya.
