Tura and Batabari MDCs missing from GHADC contest
Tura, March 15: For the first time in recent political history of Garo Hills, two sitting MDCs have not sought re-election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council as the deadline for filing nominations passed on Monday afternoon.
There are 185 candidates vying for the 29 GHADC seats up for grabs during the April 12th elections across five districts of Garo Hills.
During scrutiny, which took place after close of nominations at 3 PM, all the candidates’ nomination papers were found to be in order.
The absence of Tura MDC Rupert M Sangma and Batabari MDC Mark Goera B Marak from the contest has taken many by surprise.
Rupert Sangma had won the last GHADC election as an Independent candidate backed by the then Independent Legislator from Tura, John Leslee K Sangma. He later switched sides into the Congress and moved to the opposition benches.
However, the Congress has fielded another young Turk in the form of Kunal Ch Momin as its party candidate for the Tura MDC seat. In the last GHADC elections, six years ago, the then Congress candidate Dulal Marak had lost to Rupert Sangma.
In the case of the Batabari seat, its sitting MDC Mark Goera B Marak, has reportedly decided against contesting due to personal reasons.
Another seat that has been thrown open for a new elected candidate is the Bolsong seat of Bajengdoba where MDC Jogonsing D Sangma passed away in September, last year. Late Jogonsing Sangma lost his life battling a health problem in Guwahati.
Barring the two sitting members who are no longer in the fray, the remaining 26 MDCs are hoping to make a comeback in the face of a strong anti-incumbency wave in the district council.
Among the last few candidates to submit their nomination papers for the contest on Monday were women aspirants.
Educationist Dr (Mrs) Pilne A Sangma, who unsuccessfully contested the 2018 MLA elections from Rangsakona constituency filed her nomination papers for the Tura MDC seat as a candidate of the MDA alliance partner UDP. This is her second stint in the political arena and a first for Tura.
In similar fashion, another woman candidate to join the fray is the young Miss Ruth Tamera A Sangma, daughter of sitting Selsella MLA of the NPP and former bureaucrat Ferlin C A Sangma. Ruth filed her nomination as an Independent despite her mother’s party having already cleared the candidature of long time political figure and former MDC Roynath D Sangma as the official party candidate. Both Ruth and Roynath will be taking on seasoned politician and former Rajabala MLA Ashahel D Shira of the Congress in the Batabari contest.
On the last day for nominations, a total of nine aspirants filed their papers from six different constituencies in West Garo Hills district, while there were no nominations filed in East Garo Hills.
District wise break up
West Garo Hills with 13 MDC seats, including the prestigious Tura seat, has the highest number of 90 contestants.
East Garo Hills district, including Williamnagar constituency and Darugre (Rongjeng) and Samandagre (Songsak), has the lowest number of candidates 16 filed their nomination papers.
North Garo Hills district, with Rongrong (Resubelpara), Bolsong (Bajengdoba), Damas (Mendipathar) and Kharkutta, has 23 candidates in the fray.
South Garo Hills district with Baghmara seat (Wagesik), Siju, Silkigre, Rongrikimgre and Gasuapara has a total of 32 candidates attempting to enter the halls of the district council.
The last district in the region-South West Garo Hills, having four seats, Zikzak, Boldamgre, Betasing and Nogorpara, will witness 24 aspirants in the electoral battle that opens up for voting on April 12th.
