GUWAHATI, Jan 9 - Ten Executive Members (EMs) of the North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council (NCHAC), who had deserted the Congress a few months back to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), formally joined the Congress at a function held at the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headquarters Rajiv Bhawan here today.
According to a press release issued by the APCC, the EMs include � Mihir Garlosa, Athong Lienthang, Fleming Rupsy Shylla, L Hlima Keivom, Hailamkambe Kuame, Suanthangjen Hrangkhol, Paudaming Nriame, Laljoshua Baite, Khawvelthang Hmar and Denis Teron.
They joined the Congress in the presence of APCC vice-president Abdul Hamid, general secretary Diganta Choudhury, secretary Nrimalendu Langthasa and Dima Hasao District Congress Committee president Mahendra Kemprai, said the APCC.
It needs mention here that 18 Congress EMs and Members of the Autonomous Council (MACs) of the NCHAC had earlier joined the BJP, leading to the latter taking over the Council with former militant Niranjan Hojai as the Chief Executive Member (CEM).
The return of the 10 EMs to the Congress fold has reduced the BJP to a minority in the Council.
Haflong Correspondent adds: Meanwhile, talking to media persons over phone from Guwahati, Kulendra Daulagupu of the Congress said they are all set to stake claim to form the Council and revealed that three more Executive Members are willing to join the Congress.
Mihir Garlosa, who is leading the team, disclosed that the present political development of NCHAC was due to interference of the State political leaders who have little knowledge of Dima Hasao.
On the other hand, Hamjanan Langthasa, EM (BJP) and also a former president of the party unit, said that since the State BJP leaders had taken the credit for forming the Council, they should now also take the responsibility for the current state of affairs.
He also suggested that in order to strengthen the BJP in Dima Hasao, the present BJP president of Dima Hasao should be replaced by a popular and senior-most leader, taking all the grassroot leaders of the district into confidence. The politics in Dima Hasao, in particular, is different from that in other places of the State, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Additional SP Hoen Takbi informed that yesterday�s firing at the residence of Niranjan Hojai by unidentified gunmen caused only minor damage.
