SHILLONG, Aug 31 � Claiming majority, the NCP today staked claim to form the executive council in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), which is under animated suspension since April.
An NCP delegation led by Meghalaya Assembly Opposition leader Conrad Sangma met Governor R S Mooshahary and claimed that the party enjoyed the support of 18 members in the 30-member Council.
�Immense difficulties are being faced by the public of Garo Hills due to the GHADC being placed under animated suspension for over four months. We seek your intervention in facilitating the installation of a democratically elected executive council at the earliest,� R D Sangma, elected as the leader of the 18 members of the district council, told Mooshahary in a representation.
The representation was signed by the 18 members, including independents and members of United Democratic Party which switched allegiance, supporting the NCP.
Meghalaya Cabinet on April 1 last had recommended �administrator rule� in the GHADC in the wake of a political instability set off after allegations that the ruling NCP has hung on to power despite losing majority.
The report of the Deputy Commissioner and GHADC secretary had allegedly showed the ruling NCP in poor light, after which the Cabinet took the decision.
At least four MDCs (members of district council) of the NCP, which had twenty members in the thirty member Council, switched to the opposition Congress camp in March.
The NCP had filed an FIR at Tura Police station alleging that the four MDCs were �kidnapped�.
With the switching over of the four MDCs, both the camps had 14 members each, excluding the chairman and nominated member of the ruling side � both of whom do not have voting rights. � PTI
