By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Altogether twenty-two candidates on Saturday filed their nominations for the ensuing Assembly election, while two candidates — sitting Umroi legislator and Independent candidate Stanly Wiss Rymbai and Kredithson Ch Marak (Independent candidate from North Tura) — filed fresh sets of nominations.
Prominent candidates who filed their papers on Saturday included Deputy Speaker and NCP president Sanbor Shullai, HSPDP supremo HS Lyngdoh, former Congress legislator Samuel Sangma and Nongshken MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri.
Shullai, who is contesting from the prestigious Shillong South constituency, filed his papers along with two other party candidates — Satyendra Kumar from Pynthorumkhrah and Tobias Marak from Mawsynram — at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.
Other candidates who filed their nominations in the State capital included Independent candidate from Mawlai Teiborlang Pathaw, BJP candidate from South Shillong Augustine Lakiang, UDP candidate from Mawsynram Khraw Kupar Jyrwa and Congress candidate from Shella Jrop Singh Nongkhlaw.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after filing his nominations, Shullai expressed confidence that his party will win many seats in the February 23 election.
The Laban legislator also dismissed speculations that the formation of the NPP would impact the prospects of the NCP, saying that most of the party workers were not in favour of joining the newly-formed NPP and wanted to continue their association with the NCP.
“We have been working hard to revive the party after most of the legislators quit the NCP to join the NPP,” he said.
Shullai also expressed confidence that the delimitation of constituencies would not be a deterrent to his chances in South Shillong constituency, saying that he has been the MDC of different areas which have been added to the constituency.
The NCP president also mentioned that the top election agenda for his party would be development and fight against corruption both in the State as well as the Centre.
Our Tura Correspondent adds:
As many as ten candidates filed their nomination papers on Saturday prominent among whom were Congress candidate and sitting MDC Besterfield N Sangma for Gambegre constituency in West Garo Hills.
The largest number of nominations was filed in West Garo Hills followed by South Garo Hills district. There were no nominations filed in East, North and South West Garo Hills districts and Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division on the fourth day of filing of nominations on Saturday.
UDP candidate for Rajabala Dr M Mizanur Rahman Kazi also filed his nomination on the same day.
Besterfield N Sangma is set to contest against former C&RD Minister and Independent candidate Saleng A Sangma for the Gambegre seat.
Three candidates filed their nomination for North Tura seat, including Andreas T Sangma of the NCP, Roger Benny A Sangma (Independent) and GHADC MDC Kredithson Ch Marak (Independent from North Tura) who filed two more sets of nomination papers on Saturday.
NCP candidate for Gambegre Sanjib R Marak also filed his nomination while Anil Hajong of the BJP filed his nomination for Rangsakona seat. The lone woman candidate to file nomination for South Tura was Aderina K Sangma (Independent).
In South Garo Hills district another woman candidate filed her papers as an NCP candidate for Chokpot constituency. The wife of late NCP MLA Masonsing M Sangma, Bluebell R Sangma, filed her nomination to contest from her late husband’s former bastion of Chokpot as NCP candidate.
Another prominent candidate was Congress MLA Samuel M Sangma who, having been denied party ticket, filed his nomination as an Independent to contest from Baghmara. He was earlier selected as a candidate for the Samajwadi Party.
Our Nongstoin Correspondent adds:
Four candidates in West Khasi Hills and one candidate in South West Khasi Hills filed their nominations on Saturday for the upcoming polls.
In West Khasi Hills the first to file his nomination was Kimfa S Marbaniang (Independent) from Rambrai-Jyrngam, followed by Lovis Sangma, an Independent candidate from Mawshynrut.
HSPDP supremo and veteran politician Hoping Stone Lyngdoh filed his papers from Nongstoin while party candidate Witting Mawsor filed nomination to contest from Mawshynrut constituency.
The lone candidate to file the nomination in South West Khasi Hills on Saturday was Renikton Lyngdoh.