By Cosmos Sangma
Tura, Oct 24: Two women contestants from parties that have dominated the political landscape of Garo Hills over the years, and four men keen to become the next generation of political heavyweights from the region, have lined up to take on each other in a by-poll from Gambegre legislative seat, making this once inconspicuous constituency into a prestigious contest.
And significant it has become, given that the wife of Meghalaya’s chief minister Conrad K Sangma and the sister-in-law of the Leader of Opposition Mukul M Sangma are among the top contenders vying for the throne of Gambegre.
The NPP’s Mehtab Chandee A Sangma and the Trinamool Congress’ Sadhiarani M Sangma have filed their nomination papers.
So too have Jingjang Marak from the Indian National Congress and Bernard Marak of the BJP.
As the last day for nominations draws to a close on Friday, as many as six candidates are currently in the fray, among them being two Independent candidates.
For the NPP and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma it is a high stakes battle given that his “better half” is contesting an election for the very first time. With 18 party legislators and an Independent from the Garo Hills region backing her, Mehtab Chandee A Sangma appears confident of crossing the checkered flag comfortably.
Her opponents will be wary that she has the patience and the ears of the chief minister and has been managing his political campaigns ever since he took the plunge to fill his late father’s MP seat, and later the mantle of chief minister. Her handling of politics and simultaneously running the household in a fast-paced political world of her spouse has kept her well-wishers awestruck.
But then again, Gambegre is a Congress bastion and a stronghold of its former legislator and current Tura MP Saleng A Sangma. The Tura MP, is not likely to take this battle lying down. That is why he has rallied the grand old party to endorse the candidature of his close confidante, Jingjang Marak, for this polls. He has to prove to the people of Garo Hills that his victory in the general elections in June, this year, wasn’t a “One-hit wonder”.
Having defeated the NPP in 22 out of 24 assembly seats that made up the Tura Lok Sabha seat, Saleng Sangma will need to keep the Congress momentum alive until the next polls- the 30 seat Garo Hills Autonomous District Council slated for early next year. The party also needs to get back in the numbers game after it was left with a lone legislator when three of its MLAs switched over to the NPP, a few months ago. A defeat here will be detrimental not only for the MP, but can also cut to size any prospects of a congress revival.
And then there is Mukul Sangma and the Trinamool Congress.
Against all odds and predictions, the former chief minister has managed to remain a key factor in the political game of Garo Hills. Despite a tsunami by the NPP in the 2023 assembly elections, winning 18 out of 24 seats from this region, Mukul Sangma weathered the political storm churning out four MLAs for the Trinamool- the second largest in Garo Hills.
A victory for his sister-in-law Sadhiarani Sangma will further consolidate his position in Garo Hills. And he believes the Gambegre crown is within his grasp- now that Saleng Sangma is out of the picture. He will draw comfort from the fact that Sadhiarani Sangma came close to winning the seat in the last two terms.
Unless Bernard Marak of the BJP and the two Independent candidates, Jerry A Sangma and Sengkrabirth M Marak, pulls the rug.
The BJP may have drawn a miniscule number of votes (less than 1% of votes) in last year’s elections from Gambegre seat. But then it was a different election and candidate.
Despite the time constraints and introduction into a new place, Bernard will try and make up for it through his ability to lob uncomfortable questions on his opponents and crunch numbers on schemes- completed or otherwise. How well he weaves his stories draws in the voters is anyone’s guess.
