By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader Wansuk Syiem scripted history on Thursday by becoming the first woman to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Meghalaya.
Syiem was the lone candidate to file the nominations for the bye-election for the vacant seat.
Accompanied by three women legislators – Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak and Mahendraganj legislator Dikkanchi D Shira – Wansuk Syiem came to the office of the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha bye-election, H Mylliemngap, who declared her elected. Later, speaking to reporters, Syiem expressed happiness over the growing trend of greater representation of women in politics.
“I express my gratitude to Congress president Madam Sonia Gandhi for selecting me to contest the Rajya Sabha election. I would like to thank MPCC President DD Lapang and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and all the members of the State Legislative Assembly,” Syiem said.
“I feel great. You can see lots of changes. I will try my best to serve the people and the State,” she told reporters.
Asked about her objectives, she said, “Let me go there; let me take over. It is something new to me. Let me start my work and you will come to know gradually.”
55-year-old Syiem, a former member of the National Commission for Women and a veteran Congress leader was associated with the Meghalaya State Social Welfare Board besides being the general secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee and vice president of the All India Mahila Congress. She is also an elected member of the AICC.
The bye-election to the Rajya Sabha was necessitated after then sitting MP Thomas A Sangma resigned on February 4 to contest the 2013 Assembly polls from North Tura on an NPP ticket. He, however, finished third.
The bye-election to the Rajya Sabha was scheduled on April 19 but Syiem was declared winner on Thursday itself, being the lone candidate. The opposition UDP-led Meghalaya People’s Front (MPF) had decided against putting up any candidate for the bye-election.