From CK Nayak
New Delhi: At least a dozen candidates are in fray for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya, bye-election for which will be held on April 18.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday notified the date for the bye-election which has been necessitated to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of NCP’s Thomas Sangma on February 4. Sangma’s term was to end on April 12, 2014.
Notification for the polls will be issued on April 1 and nomination will be accepted till April 8. The last date of withdrawal will be April 11. Counting of votes will be done on the day of polling after 5 PM and the whole electoral process will be completed by April 22, EC sources added.
As Sangma’s tenure was up to April, 2014, the new MP to be elected will have only one year in office but may continue for the next full term since the Congress has strength in the Assembly.
Sangma who was elected on an NCP ticket unsuccessfully contested from North Tura Assembly seat from Purno’s NPP to avoid disqualification.
Considering the Congress’ majority status, the seat is most likely to go to the ruling party. However, overabundance of candidates from Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills has made the task daunting for Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and MPCC President DD Lapang.
The aspirants range from the left outs to the defeated ones trying for a rehabilitation and revival of their political fortune, party sources said. Even leaders from different walks of life have joined the fray.
The aspirants include former RS member, O L Nongtdu, Member National Commission for Women, Wansuk Syiem, Minority Commission Member Oris Myriaw , MPCC vice-president P W Mukhtieh, and Polycarp Marak, General Secretary of MPCC.
Former Speaker Charles Pyngrope, former Minister Manas Chaudhuri and former legislator Adolf Lu Hitler are also in the fray, party sources said.
Not to be left behind former DGP B.K.Dey Sawian, and a prominent
journalist are also in the race, sources added.
But going by the surprise factor that politics in Meghalaya can offer, the candidate to be elected can be someone out of the list too.
There are indications that the Chief Minister, buoyed by his success, might try for a Garo leader to pack the vacancy since the Rajya Sabha seat was rendered vacant due to the premature resignation of Thomas Sangma who is also from Garo Hills.
The State normally rotates the lone seat between the two dominant ethnic groups in the Upper House.
But the new member in all likelihood would also get the next full term, especially if he or she is from Khasi hills.
But by the time, there will be lots of changes with Lok Sabha polls due around middle of next year.