TURA, Dec 5 ? The two main political parties in the Garo Hills, Purno Sangma?s NCP and the Congress have begun moving into the villages reactivating their grassroot workers in preparation for the coming by-elections to two assembly constituencies and one district council seat.
The by-elections to Selsella and Songsak MLA constituencies and Tura MDC seat have been precipitated following the death of its representatives in a tragic helicopter crash at Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi district on September 22.
Selsella MLA and Minister Cyprian R Sangma, Songsak MLA Heltone N Marak, and Tura MDC and Chairman of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Rikseng A Sangma were among the ten passengers in the ill-fated flight that failed to reach its destination. While Late Cyprian Sangma and Late Rikseng Sangma belong to the Congress, Late Heltone Marak represented the regional United Democratic Party (UDP).
With P A Sangma and party nominating son Conrad K Sangma as their candidate for Selsella others have also begun a hectic search for a potential winner. The Congress is in the horns of a dilemma over the selection of its candidate. Afraid to lose the seat to its main rival, NCP, it has so far refrained from naming its party candidate despite a number of aspirants having applied for the same.
Top on the list of five contenders for the ticket is former Congress MLA and heavyweght Atul C Marak and the widow of the minister Psyche Ch Momin. Although many see Atul Marak as the one person who can take on P A Sangma and his son in Selsella the same enthusiasm is not shared between many Congress leaders, particularly Dr Mukul M Sangma, whose one fear is of a second power block arising in the Congress in Garo Hills.
With the exit of former Congress Chief Minister Salseng C Marak and Atul Marak in the last elections Dr Sangma had become the undisputed leader of Garo Hills in the Congress camp. Another factor working against Atul Marak is his party hip-hopping.
After his second consecutive defeat in the hands of the Late Cyprian Sangma, Atul Marak had left the party to join the rival NCP camp. He later shifted alliance and went over to the BJP. It is only recently that he rejoined the Congress. With the Congress keen on rewarding loyalty and metting out punishment to deserters it is yet to be seen what judgement awaits the former member.
There are a section in the Congress who feel prospective winners ought to be given a chance in the longer interest of the party and are standing by Mr Marak in the hope that the final outcome will be in his favour. So far the only indication is of a tussle for the ticket and a new member has also jumped into the bandwagon. NCP Member of the Garo Hills District Council from Balachanda, Clement Marak, has left the party and has already begun preparations for contesting from Selsella.
MDC Clement Marak was one of the ticket aspirants from the NCP camp for Selsella. Following the decision by the party to award it to Purno Sangma?s son, he along with his supporters have resigned from the party. A sizeable area of Balachanda and its voters fall under Selsella Assembly Constituency where he had won the GHADC elections with a thumping majority. Clement Marak is also not averse to contesting the election from the Congress.
Similar is the case in Songsak Assembly constituency where both parties have been flooded with ticket aspirants. The Congress is unable to decide between former MLA Tonsing Marak and Salseng C Marak, while the NCP has three aspirants, Lecturer Thomas Marak of Williamnagar, Statistical Officer Mehenson Sangma, and party loyalist Enderson Sangma.
Unable to stay long in political wilderness after his crushing defeat in the hands of NCP MDC Timothy D Shira at Resubelpara during the last assembly elections, Salseng C Marak has been waiting his time. The problem is whether his candidature can be made into a winner. As for the NCP, despite still being undecided of its party candidate it is losing little sleep. There are indications that the regional UDP, to which Late Heltone Marak belonged, could end up into an alliance with the NCP and prop up a single cadidate from the NCP.
This is causing worry for the Congress camp which in the end could decide in favour of Tonsing Marak, who was defeated by a wafer-thin margin in the last elections. With S C Marak heading the MPCC and in charge of the allotment of tickets, the final decision continues to be unsure.