Congress, BJP ally to back UDP in JHADC

Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, March 29: The Congress and the BJP working together is always considered a distant dream, but it has happened in the 30-member Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) on Thursday.

The Congress with eight elected members and the BJP with its lone member are in an alliance to support the UDP-led Executive Committee (EC) headed by Moonlight Pariat. Interestingly, the NPP will be sitting in the Opposition bench in the JHADC.

The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government in Meghalaya comprises the UDP, HSPDP, BJP, NCP and a couple of independent legislators. The Sentinel spoke to the newly elected JHADC CEM over phone on Thursday. He said, "I can safely tell you that we've 19 members in the ruling side".

Asked on the political contradiction, Pariat only said that the collapse of the last EC was written on the wall for the last one week. When asked further as to how the NPP is not taken in the same ship, Pariat said: "The NPP is portraying itself as the elder brother. We tried to negotiate with the NPP, but to no avail."  This is the second change of guard in the district councils after the new government came into power. The Congress-led EC in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) was replaced four days ago by the NPP.