Shillong, Dec. 8: The Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM) today formally decided to merge with the Congress.

The general council of the PDM at a meeting held today unanimously decided to wind up the party. Though the PDM does not have any legislator in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, its merger with the Congress will encourage the PCC to play a decisive role in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA).

The decision will also bolster the chances of the Congress in the district council election, which is scheduled for February 12. The PDM has two members in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. The PDM said the merger has been affected “keeping in view the larger interest of the people of the state”. A copy of the resolution has been sent to the chief election commissioner, he added.

The decision of the PDM to merge with the Congress has come as a surprise to several parties, especially the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has all along shared a cordial relationship with it.

In fact, the NCP had made several attempts in the past to win members of the PDM over to its side.

A few regional parties, like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) had also eyed a tie-up with like-minded parties, the PDM being one of them.

In a separate development, the Achik Citizen’s Welfare Organisation has decided to oppose any move to give tickets by political parties to any non-tribal candidate for the ensuing district council election.

The welfare organisation has expressed “serious concern” on the election of non-Garos to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in the past.

J.B. Marak, general secretary of the organisation, said he took “exception to the practice of fielding non-Garo candidates” by different political parties.

“The district council was set up to protect the interests of the Garo (tribal) community and preserve traditional customs and practices.

“But the actual aim of the district council has been defeated by various political parties, both national and regional, which take advantage of the practice solely for their own benefit,” Marak said.

Several other organisations of the Garo Hills, however, have opposed the decision of various political parties to field only tribals in the district council election.