NCP confident of win in GHADC floor test
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Opposition leader in the State Assembly Conrad K Sangma is confident NCP will win the floor test in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on November 25.
“We are equally certain party MDC from Batabari constituency, Roynath D Sangma, will be unanimously elected as new Chief Executive Member,” Sangma enthused on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court had directed the State Government to call for a floor test in GHADC.
In its order, the Court has termed the Government’s decision for suspended animation in GHADC for another six months as ‘illegal’; therefore, this cannot be sustained by law.
To ensure no MDCs are ‘kidnapped’ till the floor test, Sangma informed party members have been instructed to take precautions and not to move alone.
In the 29-member House, NCP currently has 18 MDCs, including four who had defected from the Congress, which has only 14 MDCs.
The Opposition Leader admitted there are strong possibilities there would attempts to split the MDCs before the day of the floor test, recalling that earlier, too, there had been such incidents.
Responding to queries, Sangma said there have been KHADC moves to incorporate the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) in the Sixth Schedule.
“Constitutional provisions do not currently allow for inclusion of the Tenth Schedule in the Sixth Schedule. An amendment to the Constitution would be required for this,” he clarified. He added even MDCs wanted enactment of the anti-defection law in the council. Since such a law is currently non-existent, elected MDCs are not “legally bound” to remain with their original parties. They are, thus, free to shift allegiances as per whims and fancies.
“This frequent shift of party loyalty really affects the stability of the council,” the Opposition Leader observed
He also termed as “victory of democracy” the Gauhati High Court directive to the State Government to hold the floor test.
The Dr Mukul Sangma-led Cabinet had on September 8 extended Administrative Rule for another six months in GHADC.
NCP subsequently challenged this decision in Court, questioning why the majority party should not be invited to form the new Executive Committee.
The politically-fragile GHADC has witnessed numerous claims and counter claims by both Congress and NCP to grab the reins of power.
Source: The Shillong Times
