Only NPP can provide stability in GHADC: Marcuise N Marak
Shillong, Nov 17: The Congress “wave”, which the party tried to bring in, has gone after the Bihar elections, cabinet minister and NPP working president Marcuise N Marak said while expressing confidence over the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections to Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
“I will not say it will be a cakewalk as every election has different taste. Definitely, Congress’ wave has gone down as the kind of wave they were trying to bring in has gone down after the Bihar elections,” Marak said on Monday.
“It is to be seen what kind of a wave will be there in the district council (elections),” he added.
Meanwhile, he asserted that the NPP’s development track record under Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will resonate with voters in the GHADC elections.
“We are hopeful of getting support from people of Garo Hills because the state government is performing under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma,” he said.
Emphasising the need for reform and stability in GHADC, he urged the voters to support NPP for a vision‑driven transformation of the district council.
Marak claimed that the NPP-led MDA government has already resolved the key issues of GHADC and the process of reform has already started.
“It is possible only if the mandate is given to NPP,” he said.
Acknowledging anti‑incumbency for NPP in GHADC polls, “I agree that there is anti-incumbency in the district council, but the government has also done so many things for the district council.”
He mentioned about the restoration of functioning of GHADC after payment of salary to the Council staff, who were agitating for months over unpaid salaries.
Marak said no decision has been taken on whether the party will go for a pre-poll alliance with likeminded political parties for contesting the upcoming elections to the GHADC.
“Whether we go solo or with coalition partners, that will be decided later on,” he said.
Noting that the term of current Council would expire in April 2026, he suggested that the election schedule is likely be announced by February 2026.
The NPP, meanwhile, launched the process of selecting candidates with November 14 as the deadline for sponsorship applications, which was later extended to November 30 due to numerous requests.
Only after the revised deadline, the party will start compiling constituency‑wise applications, he said.
A series of election‑committee meetings will follow, involving district and block committees as well as consultations with MLAs.
The finalized list will be forwarded to the state committee and then to the national committee for approval, with the aim of completing the entire process by the second week of December, he added.
