SHILLONG: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of District Council Affairs (DCA), Prestone Tynsong, has clarified that the resignation of former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Albinush R. Marak, was due to procedural violations rather than political differences or denial of a party ticket.
Addressing the media, Tynsong dismissed speculation that Marak’s exit was linked to internal rifts within the National People’s Party (NPP) or dissatisfaction over ticket distribution. He stated that the leadership change stemmed from a breach of established administrative protocols.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, Marak had issued a notification concerning Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates without consulting the Executive Committee (EC) or placing the matter before the House.
“I am not saying the notification itself was wrong, but the procedure followed was illegal. He signed it individually without the collective approval of the Executive Committee,” Tynsong said.
He further described the move as a “one-man show,” which led to dissatisfaction among members of the council. Subsequently, 21 Members of District Council (MDCs) expressed no confidence in Marak’s leadership, ultimately resulting in his resignation.
Responding to claims that the issue was linked to political ticket allocation within the NPP, Tynsong asserted that while political parties manage such matters internally, they do not justify bypassing constitutional and administrative norms.
The Deputy Chief Minister also rejected allegations that the recent six-month extension of the GHADC term was politically motivated. He maintained that the extension was aimed solely at enabling the newly formed Executive Committee to engage in meaningful consultations and address the aspirations of the people of Garo Hills.
