6.3 C
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Buy now

Friday, March 29, 2024

Shifting alliances in GHADC, TMC MDCs break ranks

TURA:

A power struggle that had been silently taking place for the past two months
between Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) CEM Benedic R Marak and
a majority of the NPP MDCs, who are seeking his removal in the Council, appears to
have now come out in the open as the ruling alliance has shifted all its members to
Shillong in anticipation of a possible showdown and parading of numbers before the
Governor.

The ruling NPP-led alliance has 17 members on its side in a house of 29.
The move has taken place after the current NPP chief and the Chief Executive Member
allegedly made a secret move to reach out to the main opposition Trinamool Congress,
which has 11 members, to hold on to power.

He (Benedic) has been trying to break the alliance to stay in power by seeking support
from the opposition and we were aware of the move in December itself,” a senior NPP
source told The Meghalayan on Thursday evening.

To checkmate their own CEM at the game, a majority of the NPP members met with
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma last week in Tura to apprise him of the volatile
situation.

This was followed by the entire flock of the party MDCs heading off to Shillong to bide
their time.

However, Naguapara MDC Dhormonath Sangma, said to be close to the CEM, was
conspicuous by his absence in Shillong leading to speculation he may have jumped
ship and headed for the opposition ranks.

But, the opposition TMC has also faced a revolt as two of their MDCs dramatically
emerged in Shillong to meet with the chief minister at his residence this week.

Three -time MDC from Boldamgre (Ampati) Stevie Marak, once a staunch ally of former
chief minister Mukul Sangma, and newly-elected Shyamnagar (Phulbari) MDC Habibuz
Zaman are said to be already with the NPP, according to their party sources.

However, Zaman continues to insist it was a courtesy call relating to Council and
constituency work that took him to Shillong to meet the chief minister.

High level sources within the NPP say things will unravel by next week, after
inauguration of Meghalaya Day celebrations, from January 21 onwards.
The ruling alliance is expected to call on the Meghalaya Governor to prove its majority
and possibly seek a special session to oust their own CEM.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

146,751FansLike
12,800FollowersFollow
268FollowersFollow
80,400SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Articles