SHILLONG: The five newly elected MDCs, four Independents and the lone NCP member have formed the Garo Hills United Alliance and decided not to be part of the NPP-BJP-led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance.
The MDCs, Levastone T. Sangma (Jengjal) Rupert M. Sangma (Tura) Deviar M. Sangma (Gasuapara) and Kenadik S. Marak ( Siju) and the lone NCP MDC Rightious N. Sangma (Babelapara) met on Monday at Tura after the swearing-in ceremony to pledge their solidarity to the cause of the indigenous tribal people of Garo Hills.
In a statement to the media, the MDCs said on Monday that the new alliance was formed as a platform to follow and live up to the expectation of the indigenous people.
“We are determined to sit in the Opposition as responsible representatives and are fully committed to our people who have voted for us and will fight democratically to stop the participation of the non tribals in the GHADC”, the MDCs asserted.
According to the MDCs, the purpose of the formation of alliance is to enable all the like-minded people of Garo Hills specially the elected MDCs to work under the same banner to protect the identity of the tribals.
However, the formation of the new alliance comprising four Independent MDCs and an NCP member will not be any threat to the stability of the NCP-BJP-GNC led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) as they have a total of 17 members including other three Independents supporting the coalition.
“As of now it is very difficult for us to work with the Garo Hills Progressive Alliance as it is a combination of tribal and non-tribal members and we have to respect the sentiments of the tribal people who are opposed to the idea of the participation of non- indigenous people in the District Council which is meant for the tribal people only”, the MDCs said. There are two non indigenous MDCs S.G. Esmatur Mominul and Sofiur Rahman who were committed to fight for the cause of the non tribals.
“We stand on the opposite side on this issue because we will move for the non inclusion of the non tribals in GHADC which is also the aspirations of the tribal people”, the MDCs said, while questioning Garo National Council as to how the party can compromise on this issue and forget their commitment to the people or even forget the very identity they had taken, but accepted the non tribal in the formation of the District Council Executive Committee”, the MDCs said.
