Tura, April 19: Unable to wean away any of the three Independent MDCs or the only GNC member to their camp, the Congress has accepted defeat and said it is prepared to sit in the opposition benches.

On Monday afternoon, Congress organized a high-level meeting of its 12 MDCs in Tura Congress Bhawan and later informed press reporters that the party is prepared to sit in the opposition.

“We are ready to take on the NPP in whatever judgements and policies they will take which will be detrimental to the people of Garo Hills,” said Congress MLA Zenith M Sangma.
He attacked the NPP for using money and muscle power and state machinery to try and win the GHADC elections.

“Despite the widespread use of money power and state machinery, the people of Garo Hills gave them a befitting reply by giving us more seats than the NPP. This should be a lesson for any and everyone who thinks they can buy peoples’ votes in Garo Hills,” said Zenith Sangma.

He accused the NPP of using coercion tactics, bribes and lure of gifts and positions to lure away the Independent and GNC MDCs to their camp when the Congress was prepared to form the new EC with the support of the non-NPP members.