GHADC polls: Filing of nominations begins
TURA/SHILLONG: In an interesting case of electoral duel, a former minister has filed his nomination paper for October 12 GHADC polls as an Independent candidate in the constituency from where his estranged wife is contesting on a Congress ticket.
The former minister is none other than three-time MLA Admiral K Sangma, who was the lone candidate to file nomination papers on the first day on Monday.
The former NCP leader who was also once a Congress minister filed his nomination as an Independent candidate to contest from 7-Babelapara constituency of Purakhasia in West Garo Hills district. He is the brother-in-law of NPP leader and Tura MP Purno K Sangma.
Admiral K Sangma will be taking on his own estranged wife Christilla M Marak.
During his days with the Congress he was a cabinet minister and when the trio of P A Sangma, Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar went on to form the NCP Admiral Sangma along with a group of Garo Congress MLAs switched over to the new camp.
He was defeated in the 2008 state assembly elections and later left P A Sangma’s party.
NOTIFICATION: Meanwhile, the State Government on Monday notified the complete programme for the GHADC polls. This was informed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, District Council Affairs Department. With the issuance of the notification, the process of filing nominations started.
The last dates for filing of nominations and withdrawal are September 21 and September 24 respectively. The counting will take place on October 15.
PROTEST: A conglomerate of several pressure in Garo Hills, meanwhile, has asked all tribals to wear black badge on September 17 as a mark of protest against participation of non-tribals in GHADC polls.
Informing this, five organizations — GSU, ADE, AYWO, FKJGP and FAF – have threatened to intensify agitation.
While criticising the state Congress chief DD Lapang for putting up non-tribal candidates, the conglomerate urged all the political parties to refrain from fielding non-tribal candidates in the poll.