Meghalaya CM slams BJP for opposing EC formation in GHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 19, 2021

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has slammed the state Bharatiya Janata Party for making baseless objections against the formation of the new executive committee by the National People’s Party-led coalition in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

Speaking to media persons on Monday, Sangma reminded the BJP that democracy is all about numbers.

“We are now 16 of us. Therefore, I don’t see any reason why this kind of objection should be there because clearly the numbers are with us…I don’t see any issue in that so it’s (objection by the BJP) baseless,” he said.

The BJP had stated that the NPP would require 17 to form the new EC and not 15 as it was in violation of an order passed by the High Court in the case of E Sangma and W Sangma.

When asked, Sangma outrightly rejected the BJP’s claim and said, “Those are different circumstances under which at that point in time certain decisions were taken but in a situation where we have a new EC that is formed, the rules have been followed. It is clear democracy and pure numbers is what we speak.”

On the decision not to approach the BJP for its support to form the new EC, the Chief Minister said that he has been very clear from the first day that every government is different.

“Now just because this is within Meghalaya so is it necessary that the same formulae that applies at the state level has to apply to the district council? It is not because there are all different conditions, different situations that are there, it is a different government, it is an autonomous body, therefore, the members who are part of the autonomous council will have to decide on what they would want to move forward with, who they would like to have, it is not a decision we take just because we are here in the state government, so a decision has to be taken at their level, why because they have to run the council not us.

So they have decided to have selected groups, people so that they can work better, so it is their decision not my decision,” he stated.