By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Wansuk Syiem has taken a step forward towards achieving the unique distinction of becoming the first woman Member of Parliament from Meghalaya after Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Thursday confirmed her selection as the official nominee of the Congress to contest the April 19 Rajya Sabha bye-election in Meghalaya.
The seat was left vacant after former MP Thomas A Sangma resigned to contest the recent Assembly election in the State.
Stating that there was a delay in announcing the party candidate for the vacant seat in the Upper House of Parliament, Dr Sangma informed that AICC president Sonia Gandhi, who was out of station, approved Syiem’s name on Thursday morning.
“The party has full faith that she (Syiem) would be able to deliver as per the expectations of the people and adequately represent the State in the Upper House. We wish her good luck,” Dr Sangma said over phone from Delhi.
Syiem, who was born on June 25, 1956, has held various important positions in the Congress party since 2000. She was appointed All India Mahila Congress vice president in 2006.
She is currently the member of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
It may be noted that Kong Bonnily Khongmen was the first women from the North East region to be elected to the Lok Sabha in 1952 from the then Autonomous District Constituency (United Khasi-Jaintia Hills), Assam. She was a member of the first Lok Sabha.
Bye-election deferred
The bye-election to fill up the vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya has been deferred by one day to April 19 as the State Assembly would be preoccupied with the election of the Deputy Speaker besides other transactions in the House.
Assembly Speaker AT Mondal on Thursday said that since there are many items to be taken up on April 18 during the Session, he had requested the Election Commission of India to postpone the bye-election by one day.
“The Election Commission has approved the new date,” the Speaker added.