Tura, Jan 27: A special session to hold a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) has been ordered on Saturday (January 29) by Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik after almost all Executive Members, barring two, resigned from their positions citing lack of confidence with their own CEM Benedic R Marak and demanding his ouster.
The order of Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik issued on Thursday (January 27, 2022), citing Rule 36 (5) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951, has directed that the No-Confidence Motion against the Executive Committee under Rule 22 (1) will be taken up at 11 AM on Saturday with the Chairman asked to ensure video recording of the entire proceedings and forwarding the same to the Governor through the District Council Affairs Department.
The trial of strength has been ordered after as many as 9 MDCs holding various positions of power in the GHADC Executive Committee, tendered their resignation at the start of this week citing lack of confidence in their own chief Benedic Marak whom they accuse of aligning with the opposition Trinamool.
The CEM, who has lost support of the majority MDCs of the ruling side, has remained adamant, refusing to step down. He is said to have gained the support of the opposition Trinamool Congress MDCs and in a clear sign of his new political equation, Benedic Marak has rewarded three Trinamool MDCs to positions of Chairmanship that were left vacant by NPP MDCs who tendered their resignation and abandoned his side.
CEM Benedic Marak says he is confident of winning the trust vote.
Currently, only two EMs remain on the side of the embattled CEM – BJP MDC and Agriculture Executive Member Promod Koch and NPP MDC and Bazar Haats Executive Member Dhormonath Sangma.
The opposition Trinamool Congress that is reportedly backing him is currently down from 12 to 9 MDCs, after Boldamgre MDC Stevie Marak and Shyamnagar MDC Habibuz Zaman switched over to the NPP camp. Another opposition MDC Ashahel D Shira is currently with the UDP and aligned to the ruling NPP alliance.
‘We resigned, was not removed’
Three MDCs of the ruling NPP alliance, Linekar K Sangma (NPP), Sengchim N Sangma (NPP) and Aktar Ali (Independent), who were holding different chairman positions in the GHADC have clarified that they were not removed by CEM but had resigned to seek his ouster.
Linekar K Sangma, who is NPP MDC from Nogorpara, was Chairman of Garo Hills Growers Association, Sengchim N Sangma was Chairman of Planning Advisory Committee, while Aktar Ali was Chairman of Forest Advisory Committee.
Their positions have been given to Trinamool Congress MDCs Pardinand D Shira, Habibuz Zaman and Sanjay Koch.
“This is to clarify that Linekar K. Sangma along with the other MDCs in the Executive Committee resigned from their respective posts as they have lost confidence in the leadership of the present CEM of GHADC, who have gradually turned out to be incompetent to lead the GHADC. His actions have proved that he is not well-learned to understand the mechanism of prestigious institutions such as the GHADC, which if led blindly, with no vision and proper policies would bring great damage in the long run,” a statement from the ruling alliance stated.
