By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 21: The National People’s Party (NPP) has asserted its superiority in the Garo Hills, claiming that rivals Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) are either floundering, fragmented, or irrelevant in the region.
NPP working president and Cabinet Minister, Marcuise N Marak, tore into the Congress, branding it a party long past its prime.
“Congress is the oldest party, and in the Garo Hills, they are struggling. Many of their leaders have joined the NPP, and although it won a seat in the last MP elections, it does not have a hold in the Garo Hills region,” he said, dismissing the grand old party’s recent electoral gains in the Lok Sabha polls as a blip rather than a trend.
He said most of the TMC members are confused and indecisive about sticking with the party or quitting. “The confusion is because the party is getting no traction in the Garo Hills, and it is difficult for the people there to accept it,” Marak said.
When asked about the position of senior TMC leaders, he said, “No comments.”
The minister said the VPP has no relevance in the region. “There are no takers for the VPP in the Garo Hills, and they do not have any leader acceptable to the people in the region,” he added.
Conceding that politics anywhere comes with its own set of challenges, Marak maintained that the NPP’s engagement with the people remains consistent. “I don’t see any dominance. We are trying our level best to work with the people there,” he said.
Consolidation
work in GHADC
With the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) scheduled early next year, the NPP has begun consolidating its position by opening its doors to leaders and supporters from rival political parties. “There are feelers. We will be disclosing at the right moment. I, as the working president of NPP, announced that I will hold a meeting in every district and meet with all the party leaders. I have been informed that many leaders of other political parties want to join the NPP and be a part of the family,” Marak said.
“It is a part of the exercise for the MDC elections,” he said.
Referring to the recent inductions, he said, “We had a meeting in Rongjeng. We welcomed former MLAs Sengnam M. Marak (Rongjeng) and Francis Pondit R. Sangma, along with some 300 supporters.”
Another former Rongjeng MLA, Desang Sangma, also joined the NPP. Several members of the TMC joined the NPP with Sengnam Marak.
The minister said the new members were impressed by the ongoing progress across Garo Hills. “They are happy to see so many activities and institutions coming up in the Garo Hills,” he said.
With these inductees, the NPP appears to be gaining early momentum in the run-up to the GHADC elections, signalling a strategic push to tighten its grip in the region.