Tura, Jan 27: In a major development in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) crisis that has pervaded the local conscience for about a month now, a floor test is set to be held on Saturday through a special session allowed by the Governor of Meghalaya.
There has been a crisis in the GHADC with the current Executive Committee (EC) and the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Benedic Marak being at loggerheads with each other over various issues. Matters got to head after three MDCs were ‘sacked’ (as per the CEM) or ‘resigned’ (as per the MDCs) in an act of defiance by Benedic.
In an order sent by the Governor of Meghalaya through the District Council Affairs department on Thursday, the Governor announced a special meeting of the GHADC under Rule 36(5) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951, for Saturday.
The session will begin at 11am at the Council Hall to take up a no-confidence motion against the EC under Rule 22 (1) of the said Rule. The order further asked the Chairman of the GHADC, Rakesh Sangma to ensure the entire proceeding of the no-confidence motion to be done and forwarded to the office of the Governor.
The session on Saturday becomes significant even as the present NPP-led coalition MDCs have expressed their unhappiness with the leadership of the CEM, Benedic Marak over various decisions in the functioning of the GHADC itself.
With there being no anti-defection law in the Council, the motion on Saturday will gain significance.
“We had no other option other than taking the no-confidence route as this was causing damage to the party and the functioning of the GHADC. We are confident but it’s a matter of a vote,” said a NPP MDC on the condition of anonymity.
On the other hand, an AITC MDC, again on the condition of anonymity felt the situation was tricky and they would require the numbers to win on Saturday.
Meanwhile both parties went into a huddle on Thursday evening in an attempt to rake up the numbers as well as save their members from being poached.