TURA, April 21: In its first battle since being overtaken by the Congress in the just concluded elections to the GHADC, the NPP has managed to upset the latter, defeating it in the election to the prestigious position of Chairman of the GHADC on Wednesday.
NPP MDC Rakesh A Sangma defeated his Congress opponent Cherak W Momin by 16 votes to 12 to become one of the youngest members to hold this all-important position.
The results of the election also appeared to have sealed the fate of the Congress when it comes to numbers for the formation of the new EC. With 16 MDCs on its side, the NPP has a clear edge over the Congress which has 12 MDCs.
The lone absentee was BJP MDC Bernard N Marak from Tura who failed to turn up for the special session. His colleague and Barengapara MDC Pramod Koch attended the session, sitting alongside incumbent Chairman Rakesh Sangma.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh chaired the special session and conducted the election.
Addressing the house shortly after he was elected and escorted to the chair by the two senior-most members — Sadhiarani Sangma of the Congress and Benedic R Marak of the NPP — Rakesh A Sangma said that he would work impartially for the good of the district council and the people of Garo Hills.
