Bernard left in the lurch as Koch meets with CM to give support

Tura, April 18: A non-diplomatic hard stand displayed by BJP president Ernest Mawrie and his protégé and Tura MDC Bernard Marak to strike a hard bargain refusing to join any NPP led alliance in the GHADC unless he is made the Chief Executive Member has pulled them down hard and fast

The Tura MDC has been left without any bargaining chips in the power game after the only other elected BJP MDC from Barengapara, Pramod Koch, met with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Shillong on Sunday to give his support to the NPP led Garo Hills Democratic  Coalition.

Although Koch has given his commitment to support the NPP alliance, he will remain a BJP MDC.

The decision of the BJP MDC to give support has raised the alliance strength to 16 in a house of 29 elected MDCs.

Highly placed sources in the NPP camp confirmed the meeting between Koch and Sangma in Shillong.

“It was apparently meant to happen because how can the BJP sit with the Congress in the opposition? Their ideologies are completely opposite each other,” informed a senior NPP leader.

BJP sources also mention that several leaders within the party have been “angered” and “disappointed ” with the stand taken by their president Mawrie and Marak to stonewall the NPP alliance move which was fuelling the Congress camp.

“The BJP is an ally of the NPP-led MDA govt in the state. So it was natural their common enemy is the Congress and not us,” said NPP leaders.