TURA, March 4: National People’s Party MDC from Gasuapara, Sengchim N Sangma became the new chairman of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council after defeating Rinaldo K Sangma of the All India Trinamool Congress by six votes in the election held on Friday.
While the Gasuapara MDC got 18 votes out of the total of 30, his rival secured only 12 votes. The NPP MDC’s triumph comes on the 6th death anniversary of the party’s founder and former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno A Sangma.
Following Sengchim’s victory, NPP MDCs along with others in the ruling alliance visited the grave of the late leader at the Roman Catholic Cemetery at RC Road to pay floral tribute.
Interestingly, BJP MDC Promod Koch, who had earlier sided with former CEM Benedic Marak, went back to supporting the NPP-led coalition. His colleague Bernard Marak, however, voted in favour of the AITC candidate. With the chairman’s post secured, the NPP will now look to stamp its authority in the GHADC by winning the election for the post of CEM which is likely to be held on Saturday. NPP candidate and Siju-Rongara MDC, Albinush Marak is the favourite against AITC candidate and Naguapara MDC, Dhormonath Sangma.
The election for the post of CEM was necessitated after Babelapara MDC Rakesh A Sangma stepped down amidst mounting protests by pressure groups who had questioned his non-Garo lineage and alleged that he and his family had never followed the Garo way of life.