GUWAHATI, Jan 7 — The Chief Executive Member (CEM) Karbi Anglong Automous Council (KAAC) where Congress regained power in the recent election, will be elected on January 11 next while North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) will elect its CEM on January 10. Former MP Biren Singh Ingti is tipped to be the new CEM of the KAAC as the District Congress Committee of the hill district decided to back his candidature for the position although he did not contest the council polls. In case, Sri Ingti becomes the CEM of the Council on January 11, he will have to get elected to the Council within a period of six months. The break up of party-wise members in KAAC is as follows: Congress 13, ASDC (U) 10, ASDC(P) two and Independent one. Out of the 13 Congress MACs only 12 will be able to cast their votes in case of an election to the post of CEM and one of the Congress MAC, George Milik was elected the Chairman of the Council.
Sources in Karbi Anglong informed that it will be a smooth sailing for Congress to install its CEM in the Council as the ASDC(P) two MACs are likely to abstain from voting in case of election. The enmity between the two factions of the ASDC – ASDC (U) led by Holiram Terang and ASDC(P) led by Dr Jayanta Rongi — has gone in favour of Congress which has been put in a position to form the Executive Council although it has failed to win simple majority in the 26-member KAAC. The ASDC (P) led by Dr Rongpi will ensure that its rival ASDC-U cannot come to power in the Council.
Meanwhile, Sri Purnendu Langthasa, son of State Minister for Forest and Hill Areas Development, GC Langthasa, is likely to become the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) where Congress won 14 seats out of the total 23 seats in the last election. As the Congress is well placed in the Council, election of CEM will be a mere formality in NCHAC on January 10 next.