Shillong, June 11: National People’s Party (NPP) leader James K Sangma was elected unopposed to the lone Rajya Sabha seat for Meghalaya on Thursday after the withdrawal deadline lapsed. “(Following the closure of the withdrawal process at 3pm today) …I met the returning officer and received my certificate of election,” Sangma told reporters. Calling it a big responsibility, he said he would represent the state with dedication.
“I just want to say that I feel humbled and yet at the same time I feel very honoured to be shouldering this responsibility. I know it is a very big responsibility to represent our state of Meghalaya in the Upper House and knowing my responsibility fully well, I intend to carry this responsibility with all my dedication and sincerity,” he said.
On challenges of representing the North East in Parliament, Sangma said limited numbers make it difficult to get speaking time, but he would press for more. “Yes, it is always a challenge because to speak in the parliament, to get an opportunity to express yourself on a representative basis… because of less numbers in the North East it is always a challenge. But I believe that persistence, patience is something that I will need to ensure that I have that in plenty and I will keep always press for more time to be allotted, especially because there are many issues not just in our state of Meghalaya but in the entire region of the NE that needs that kind of voice in parliament,” he said.
“So, it will be my endeavour to impress and stress upon the fact that NE needs more talking room, talking space and talking time in parliament,” he added. Sangma listed inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule and implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) among his priorities.
“From the Meghalaya perspective we all know we are pushing for Khasi and Garo languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule. There are many issues that Meghalaya has in terms of voice we want to be heard in parliament but of course there are issues in the North East as well that need to be highlighted,” he said.
“On ILP, as we all know this is an issue which has been passed in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly as a resolution so it is my bounded duty as a representative of the state to carry forward that resolution so that it finds a voice in the halls of the Rajya Sabha. Yes, I will be pursuing this matter,” he said.
He also said he would facilitate implementation of central schemes for the state. “My role as a member of parliament I can also play the role of somebody in New Delhi where governmental programmes, schemes can also be pursued in the respective government departments. So, I will be offering my services to the government also to take up those kinds of matters,” he said.
Asked about reports of discontent among MDA partners over his candidature, Sangma rejected the claim. “I think that is completely wrong and on the day of nomination you all saw that I was accompanied not just by NPP MLAs, I was accompanied by our alliance partners as well. There may have been certain names.
I think that is part of a democratic, it is very healthy and it is the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance so true to its name that mantra has been followed. But eventually the decision was made and there is unanimity in the support,” he said. He said his guiding principle as MP would be the state’s interest.
“I think I cannot speak on his behalf but I believe that issues which are there for the benefit of the state I am very sure that as an MP he would always keep that in mind that it is in the best interest of the people and interest of the state that he should pursue those. And similarly, for me that would be my guiding principle as to what is in the benefit of our people and our state,” he said.
