Coalition meet allows parties to take own course in LS bypolls
Shillong, June 3: The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) – II has announced former minister James PK Sangma as a consensus candidate for Meghalaya’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, which is going to polls on June 18.
The MDA-II, which comprises the NPP, UDP, BJP, HSPDP, and two Independents, finalised the National People’s Party (NPP) vice-president’s name for the Upper House seat that falls vacant after MP Dr WR Kharlukhi completes his term.
“The meeting unanimously endorsed the NPP’s proposal for the candidature of James PK Sangma as Rajya Sabha nominee representing the MDA-II,” UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh announced after the meeting.
Earlier, the other MDA constituents pushed for their own candidates as MDA representative, but there was no consensus.
“Since the various parties had proposed various names of individuals belonging to the respective political parties and there being no point of consensus on a single name, it was decided to follow the established convention of endorsing the proposal put forward by the largest constituent i.e., the NPP,” Lyngdoh said.
He said the move was aimed “to ensure cohesion and unanimity on the basis of established parliamentary practice.”
The coalition also settled the question of the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election. “It was unanimously agreed that the parties are free to contest/support/stay neutral/stay away from the above bye-election,” he said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the meeting had a single-point agenda and thanked members for their unity. He confirmed that the nomination filing will be on June 5.
Explaining the decision, Sangma said extensive talks did not yield a consensus.
“Detailed discussion took place and that is why we took a lot of time…we have all agreed together that we will go as per democratic process and allow the largest party nominee to be backed,” he said.
He stressed that all constituents had signed off on the resolution.
Ruling out any whip from MDA-II on the voting, Sangma said, “If the whip comes in, it will come in the language that the particular political party MLAs will support the MDA-II candidature.”
Clarifying that also James PK Sangma is an NPP leader, his candidature is from MDA-II, not NPP, Sangma said, “It is important to note that the candidate, which we are proposing now, is not a political party candidate but it has been adopted as a resolution as the MDA-II’s candidate.”
James thanks MDA
Former Home Minister James PK Sangma has expressed gratitude to the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA)-II for endorsing him as its common candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election.
The NPP national vice-president, in a social media post, said he was grateful for the support from his party and alliance partners.
“I am deeply humbled by the decision of the NPP and our alliance partners in the MDA to back my candidature as the common candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha MP,” Sangma wrote.
Sangma, a former legislator from Dadenggre, served as Home Minister in the previous MDA government but lost his Assembly seat in the 2023 elections.
