TURA: From his expulsion from the NPP to his entry into the Garo National Council, former GHADC CEM Boston Marak has now joined the regional United Democratic Party.
The former chief of the district council, who engineered the collapse of the Denang T Sangma led NPP alliance in the GHADC, one year ago, was welcomed into the UDP on Saturday by the party’s leaders from the Garo Hills region.
The UDP’s state vice president, Utpal Arengh, Garo Hills general secretary Utzol Sangma, state joint secretary Lindin Momin and state youth joint secretary Anand Marak welcomed Boston into the party fold.
The entry of Boston into the UDP will find the regional party getting a representation in the current GHADC where it had drawn a blank in two previous elections in the Garo Hills- council and state polls.
“I joined the UDP because I wanted to be part of a party that stands for the progress of the state,” said Boston during his induction into the regional party.
“We are looking at ways to further strengthen the party in the grassroot level in the Garo Hills,” said UDP’s Utzol Sangma.
Interestingly, despite Boston pulling the rug from under the feet of then CEM Denang T Sangma to topple the NPP Executive Committee, he was sidelined by the Congress when it came to ticket distribution for the assembly polls. The Congress selected sitting legislator from Salmanpara Winnerson D Sangma who got re-elected.
“Our party had a poor performance during the last assembly elections in the Garo Hills region. Now that the UDP is part of the ruling alliance we want to ensure Garo Hills is able to give a large contribution next time round,” said UDP{ leader Anand Marak.
In the light of the poor show in the February polls, the UDP has dissolved all of its previous committees, preferring to currently open only three sections in the Garo Hills- general, women’s wing and youth wing.
The UDP has selected Golding R Sangma as president and Tilbert A Sangma as secretary to lead the party in the Garo Hills.
In the women’s wing, Dr Jova Ch Marak has been made president, Smera Sangma as working president and L K Gracy as secretary.
The youth wing of the party is to be led by Lyon Ch Marak as president and Jimberth Ch Momin as secretary.
