BJP letter to GHADC chief shows fissure in coalition

Shillong, June 22: The bickering within the ruling coalition in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) became evident after BJP sought clarification from the chief executive member (CEM) on the appointment of his advisor, who is claimed to be a member of the saffron party.

The Tura city unit of BJP has asked council CEM Benedic R Marak to explain in writing within three days the reason for appointing Akki A Sangma as his chief advisor. Sangma is not even a matriculate, the party claimed in a letter submitted on Tuesday.

The CEM had claimed that Sangma was a BJP member and his appointment followed direction from the party’s Meghalaya in-charge, M Chuba Ao, with the intention to get money from the Centre on 1% token share basis.

However, the BJP unit said Sangma was not an active member in Tura, though he is from the town. It also claimed that he neither took part in party activities nor attended any meeting.

“Since you informed us verbally that Akki Sangma was appointed on advice of Dr Chuba Ao, you are kindly requested to reply to us in writing by detailing to us the ground how Dr Chuba instructed you to appoint a non-BJP and lowly educated boy as your chief advisor when there was elected members and former CEMs and MDCs in BJP. Kindly also clarify, how much money was agreed to be sanctioned by Akki A Sangma through Dr Chuba as was assured to you,” the party said.

“We want to know these facts because BJP Tura City District members and the MDCs and the former MDCs were never consulted and informed of the decision taken by the Meghalaya in-charge,” it added.

BJP also asked the CEM to clarify the decision taken by him and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with regards to the letter of support extended by the party MDC from Tura Bernard N Marak to the executive committee.