New Delhi: Putting at rest all speculations, Conard Sangma on Wednesday succeeded his father Purno Agitok Sangma as the national president of National People’s Party.
Conrad, the youngest son of Purno, was elected unopposed as the president of the NPP during an extraordinary general body meeting of the party held in New Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by national working president Arvind Netam and attended, among others, by the central executive committee members and members of the general body.
“We, as a party, have elected Conrad as our new president because we have complete faith in his young and dynamic leadership to fulfil the vision and dreams of our departed leader,” NPP spokesperson James Sangma told a news agency.
James said the party will contest the Assam assembly elections scheduled to be held next month as this was announced by late Sangma.
The former Speaker of Lok Sabha died following a massive heart attack on March 4 at the age of 68.
Sangma presided over the 11th Lok Sabha as speaker from 1996 to 1998. He also served as chief minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990.
Top office bearers, presidents from different state units, leaders of frontal oganisations of NPP proposed Conard’s name, which was seconded by others present in the meeting.
Netam, top party leader from Rajasthan, also supported Conrad’s name for the post.
Later talking to The Shillong Times, the former Meghalaya Finance Minister said that he would try to finish the unfinished agenda of his late father.
“I shall try to carry everybody of the party with me and we will work unitedly ,” he said.
Memorial ceremony: Meanwhile, senior ministers of NDA government at the Centre, leaders from other political parties among others paid rich tributes to Late Sangma in a largely attended all faith memorial ceremony here.
Nitin Gadkari, Rajiv Pratap Ruddy, Jual Oram all ministers in the NDA Government spoke eloquently about Punro who spent later part of most of his active political in national capital. (With inputs from IANS)
