By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Buoyed by the success of the Congress in the February 23 Assembly polls in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has been entrusted with the task of finding out a suitable candidate to contest the Tura parliamentary seat for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
A party legislator said that the Central leaders have entrusted the Chief Minister with the task of exploring the possibilities of finding out a capable candidate to ensure the victory of the party in Tura.
The current MP and NCP’s Agatha Sangma is likely to contest again from Tura, but on an NPP ticket.
Tura seat was represented by PA Sangma in the past for several terms till he was elected as a State legislator in 2008. In the subsequent bye-poll, his daughter Agatha contested and won the seat. She retained her seat in the 2009 general elections.
In the bye-election in 2008, Agatha had defeated the Chief Minister’s brother Zenith Sangma, who is the current Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. Agatha had defeated present Social Welfare Minister Deborah Ch Marak in 2009.
Dr Sangma himself had to face defeat twice – one in 2004 general elections and another in 2006 by-election – following the MOBSE imbroglio when he contested against PA Sangma.
However, this time, with the NPP having just two Assembly seats in Garo Hills, being represented by James Sangma and Nihim Shira, the morale of the party is at an all-time low.
A victory for the Congress in Tura in the Lok Sabha polls is crucial for the Chief Minister to further establish his supremacy as the undisputed leader of Garo Hills.
With the NPP trying to expand its base in Garo Hills in the run up to the elections, the Congress may find it tough to secure the Tura seat despite having maximum legislators and Independents to support the party candidate.