Former MLA joins Trinamool, party gets boost in North Tura

TURA, Feb 5: In a major boost to the TMC’s chances of bagging the North Tura seat, former MLA of Rongram and MDC of Jengjal, Ismail Marak, along with his supporters joined the party in its offices this afternoon.
The move becomes significant as Ismail was one of the contenders for the BJP ticket for the constituency from the BJP but was rejected by the party’s leaders. The ticket went to former TMC leader, Adamkid Sangma.
Ismail and his supporters, this afternoon, pledged their support to TMC candidate, Rupert Sangma, who is in a battle with NPP’s Thomas Sangma, the BJP as well former MLA, Billykid Sangma in what is expected to be a battle of very close margins.
Ismail is a former MLA of Rongram before delimitation of the constituency. He defeated the then MLA, Sengman Marak, by a margin of over 1,500 votes.
He won as an independent candidate in 2008 before losing to James Sangma in the newly created Dadenggre constituency.