Shillong, Feb 24: The A·chik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF) has written to the state unit leaders of the National People’s Party (NPP), Congress Party and Trinamool Congress (TMC) to express its displeasure at their selection of non-Garo candidates for the Betasing seat at the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election.
All three parties have selected non-Garos as their candidates for the seat in South West Garo Hills.
The issue of non-Garo candidates and voters in the GHADC has been a recurring one. Although various pressure groups and other bodies have opposed their participation, there is nothing legally standing in the way of non-Garos contesting or voting in GHADC elections.
While the NPP has nominated the sitting MDC Sanjay Koch, the Congress has chosen Ajitav Koch and the TMC Hemandra Hajong.
“The Garo Hills are home to the Garo people and the majority are strongly opposed to the candidacy of non-Garo individuals” in the forthcoming GHADC election, the ASPF said in its letter. “In light of this, we kindly request that you review this decision. We believe that revoking the candidacies of non-Garo candidates would be in the best interest of the Garo community and would better reflect their aspirations.”
