By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma’s wife Dikanchi D Shira has decided to join mainstream politics by planning to contest the upcoming 2013 Assembly elections.
Shira, who is seen accompanying her husband in several important functions, has decided to come into her own. She has taken an application form seeking a Congress ticket to contest from Mahendraganj seat.
Confirming this, Congress sources on Saturday informed that the Chief Minister’s wife collected application form from the Congress Bhavan on Friday.
As per information collected till Friday 6 pm, party sources informed that a total 148 Congress members collected the application forms.
“With Ms Shira getting into the fray the number has risen to 149,” party sources said.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Saturday, Ms Shira said she took the decision to contest the polls after the Congress party workers and voters from Mahendraganj requested her to do so. They have taken a vow to work for her in the upcoming elections.
“In fact, this proposal from the party workers to support Chief Minister’s spouse came after the constituency was converted into a reserved seat,” party sources said, adding that the incumbent Mahendraganj legislator Abdus Saleh, also from the Congress, will no longer have the privilege of seeking a re-election from his constituency since the seat is no longer a general seat.
With Mahendraganj becoming a reserved seat, – Garo Hills will now have only two general seats out of the total 24 which include Rajabala, currently represented by Congress leader Sayeedullah Nongrum and Phulbari represented by Independent legislator Abu Taher Mondal.
If both Dr Sangma and Mrs Shira succeed in getting elected to the Assembly next year, the husband-wife duo will be emulating Manipur where the incumbent chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his wife Landhoni Devi are both in the Assembly.
Mrs Shira, whose father Late Ira R. Marak had served as a Deputy Speaker in the state Assembly from 1983-88, is a Class-I contractor and an industrialist. She is also involved in coal trade.
It may be mentioned that apart from Shira, the other prominent Congress women politicians who are vying for tickets include Urban Affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh from East-Shillong constituency, PCC working president Deborah C. Marak from Williamnagar, and former minister Roshan Warjri from North Shillong.
The other women aspirants include Fardina C Marak from Songsak, Sabina Sangma from Rongjeng, Arlene Sangma from Chokpot, Silme Marak from Mahendraganj, Eureka Lyngdoh from Mairang, Pelcy Snaitang from Mawshynrut and Irin Lyngdoh from Mawthadraishan.