By Our Reporter
SHILLONG:Wansuk Syiem is all set to be elected unopposed in the April 19 Rajya Sabha bye-election in Meghalaya after the MUA-II meet endorsed her candidature here on Saturday even as the UDP-led Opposition alliance, the Meghalaya People’s Front (MPF), decided against putting up any candidate for the poll.
Apart from Congress leaders, NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai and an Independent MLA also attended the MUA-II meeting. If elected, Syiem would become the first woman Member of Parliament (MP) from the State.
The Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma informed that Syiem, who is currently a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), will file her nomination on Monday.
Earlier on Thursday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had also approved Syiem’s candidature. Interestingly, Dr Sangma also revealed that there are some leaders in the party who have expressed willingness to contest the bye-election.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president DD Lapang told reporters after the meeting that Wansuk Syiem was nominated unanimously by the party and even the NCP and Independent MLAs have extended their support to her.
Meanwhile, commenting on the decision to not up a candidate for the by-poll, UDP spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said, “We have decided not to put up a candidate for the by-poll after two of the aspirants who had agreed to contest, backed out at the last moment.”
According to Lyngdoh, the aspirants did not want to contest on grounds that there is only one year to go before the current Rajya Sabha MP’s term ended.
Lyngdoh however declined to reveal the names of the aspirants even as sources say that the MPF had planned to put up former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh and former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong as its candidates.
“I can only say that both of them have expressed keenness to contest the next year’s Lok Sabha elections,” the UDP spokesperson said.
Sources also informed that it is more or less confirmed that the former Home Minister would be the consensus candidate of the non-Congress forces to contest from the Shillong Parliamentary seat in the
2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Another reason for the MPF, which comprises of UDP, NPP, GNC and Independents, to not put up their candidates is the lack of strength in the Assembly.
The Opposition knew that even if a candidate is fielded, they will win only if there is cross voting from MLAs supporting the Congress-led MUA government.
In the 60-member house, the MUA has 43 MLAs – Congress (29), NCP (2) and Independents (12) and the Congress candidate no doubt will emerge victorious if she gets full backing from the ruling MLAs.
The Opposition however has only 17 MLAs in the Assembly – UDP (8), HSPDP (4), NPP (2), GNC (1) and Independents (2).
The RS by-election in the State was necessitated after Nationalist Congress Party member Thomas A Sangma resigned recently and unsuccessfully contested the February 23 Assembly polls from Tura on a National People’s Party (NPP) ticket.