Tura, Feb 24: Seeking a council representation ostensibly for the Garos of Garo Hills, pressure group A·chik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF) has urged major political parties in Meghalaya to immediately cancel the allotment of party tickets to non-Garo candidates for the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GDC) elections, citing Betasing constituency in South West Garo Hills where almost all major political parties have fielded non-Garo candidates.
In a letter addressed to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the National President of the National People’s Party (NPP); Vincent Pala, President of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee; and Charles Pyngrope, President of the Meghalaya Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee, the ASPF expressed strong opposition to the nomination of non-Garo candidates in the Garo Hills region.
The party specifically objected to the allotment of tickets to Sanjay Koch (NPP), Ajitav Koch (INC), and Hemandra Hajong (TMC) for the 14 Betasing GDC elections.
Justifying its stand, the ASPF said that the Garo Hills region is predominantly inhabited by the Garo community, and there is widespread sentiment against the candidature of non-Garo individuals in the forthcoming council polls. The party stated that such decisions do not reflect the aspirations and interests of the local indigenous population.
“We believe that revoking the candidacies of non-Garo candidates would be in the best interest of the Garo community and would better reflect their aspirations,” the letter stated.
The representation was signed by Bernita Marak, General Secretary of ASPF, and Raksim Marak, Chief Organising Secretary, from the party’s headquarters in Tura, West Garo Hills.
