By TURA BUREAU
TURA:
Beleaguered NPP Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Benedic R Marak lost the no-trust vote on Saturday, while Chairman Rakesh A Sangma resigned and filed his nomination to contest election for the post of CEM on January 31.
Marak lost the vote despite gaining the support of the opposition All-India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MDCs.
As many as 15 MDCs on the side of the NPP alliance stood up to support the no-confidence motion seeking the ouster of the CEM. The CEM made a last-minute appeal to those who moved the no-confidence motion, denying the graft charges levelled against him and pointing out the changes he has made in the council since he assumed office.
During the debate, Marak spoke about clearing salaries of employees of the council pending for close to a year.
As the voting began, as many as 15 stood up seeking his removal. Among the 15, who went against the CEM, included two rebel Trinamool Congress MDCs, Stevie Marak and Habibuzan, and former Congress MDC, Ashahel D Shira, who defected to the UDP.
Three independents and the lone Garo National council MDC and Deputy CEM in the outgoing executive council of Benedic Marak, Nikman Ch Marak, also voted in favour of the no-confidence motion sealing the CEM’s fate.
The CEM had, on Friday, made a last-ditch effort to stop the no-confidence motion by approaching the Meghalaya High Court, which was rejected.
Those supporting the outgoing CEM included the 9 Trinamool MDcs, two BJP MDCs, Promod Koch and Bernard Marak, and rebel NPP MDC Dhormonath Sangma.
The chairman announced that the election of a new chief executive member will take place on January 31. He is a front runner for the CEM’s position, informed NPP sources.
Despite having been defeated on the floor of the house, the ousted CEM also filed his nomination papers to contest the election thus setting up a two-way fight on Monday.
 The former CEM filed his nomination before Deputy Chairman of GHADC Albinush R Marak on Saturday afternoon, just hours after facing defeat in the trial of strength.