Shillong,Jan 31: Congress candidate Augustine D. Marak from Dadenggre Assembly constituency joined Meghalaya TMC on Tuesday with supporters from different parties in the presence of Meghalaya TMC candidate Rupa M Marak and Dadenggre Block President Jengga Jilinga M Marak.
The event was also attended by District convenor in charge for Phulbari and Tikrikilla Polmonsing Sangma, Dadenggre TMC Block Committee advisor Mickel G Momin, Meghalaya TMC Working President in Dadenggre Boaz Marak, Meghalaya TMC General Secretary in Dadenggre Levastone T Sangma and Ex-MDC Jengjal.
The joining event comes a day after Augustine D Marak decided to withdraw his candidature to support Meghalaya TMC’s vision for the state, a statement issued by the TMC said.
On his decision to join Meghalaya TMC, Augustine said, “Some reports have come out suggesting that the votes might get split between Congress and TMC and this might benefit the party that is not fit to win. This is why I am taking Vincent Pala head-on for abandoning Garo Hills. People from Kolkata have visited this part multiple times but he couldn’t come here from Shillong.”
Expressing his delight for the support extended by ‘uncle’ Augustine D Marak, Meghalaya TMC leader Rupa Marak said, “With the support from uncle and several leaders who are here to support me, I am very confident that we will manage to get through this election. On the counting day, we will come out with flying colours.”
Praising the ideals of Trinamool Congress that call for standing up for the rights of minorities, Augustine said, “When the funds for Mother Teresa charity (Missionaries of Charity) were blocked by the Centre, our Chief Minister was silent. Neither your MLA James Sangma nor MP Agatha Sangma said a word against the move. But Trinamool MPs from West Bengal – Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien – spoke on our behalf.”
Augustine was a three-time MLA of Dadenggre from 1993 to 2008. He is the former minister of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and Home (Civil Defence and Home Guards). He was the Samajwadi Party candidate from Raksamgre in 2013 Assembly elections following which he became the NPP candidate from Tikrikilla in 2018 Assembly elections. Augustine resigned as the Vice President of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, on January 30.
