Shillong, Apr 17: BJP Member of District Council (MDC) from Tura in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Bernard Marak who was recently elected from Tura on Saturday told reporters that the National People’s Party (NPP) claim of having a majority to form the Executive Committee (EC) in the Council is wrong.

“15 is not the magic number in the district council because the court has passed an order in 2000 in the case of Edmund Sangma and Winson Sangma that the minimum number for claiming majority will be 17,” Marak said.

According to him if a party or a coalition has 15 MDCs, one of them will be the Chairman. Therefore in the 29-member House if one is a chairman then it’s a tie and it will be 14 each (on either side).

“Therefore the court has given a verdict that it should be 17 members,” the Tura MDC said.

Marak also alleged that the Governor has been misled by the leaders of NPP that with 15 number they can form the EC.

The BJP MDC said that the party will be sending an objection to the Governor on the claim of the NPP having majority.

Marak also informed contrary to rumours the BJP is not supporting the NPP.

Terming the claims as false, he said, “We are sticking to our principle and we will continue our fight against corruption.”

The Tura MDC also said that if the BJP is to join the Garo Hills Democratic Coalition (GHDC) in the Council, then the EC should be led by the BJP.