SHILLONG: As many as 28 candidates, including veteran leaders, filed their nominations on Saturday.
Apart from heavyweights like Prestone Tynsong, HDR Lyngdoh and Nihim D Shira, candidates from different political parties as well as independents also filed their papers on the fourth day. Adelbert Nongrum of KHNAM, who will contest from North Shillong, was among them.
A host of candidates from NPP, like Pyniaid Sing Syiem (Mawryngkneng), Ehkupar Nongrum (Nongthymmai), HS Shylla (Nongkrem), Remington Pyngrope (Mawkynrew), Laplu Sangma (Mawsynram), Gigur Myrthong (Mawshynrut) and Donkupar Massar (Ranikor) also filed their nominations.
From Mawhati, Independent Julius Dorphang and KHNAM’s Zachary Shadap were also on the list. In Dorphang’s case, supporters of the jailed MLA filed the papers on his behalf.
Other KHNAM candidates who filed their papers on Saturday were Moses Kharbithai (Mawryngkneng) and Bankyrshanborlang Lyngdoh Nongbri (Mawlai).
Donlang Nongbri was the lone Lok Janshakti Party candidate to file papers from Mawlai.
Meanwhile, some candidates who had filed their nominations earlier also submitted necessary documents to respective returning officers on Saturday.
An official from East Khasi Hills district said more candidates will turn up on Monday.
In Jowai, UDP candidate Moonlight Pariat filed his nomination papers on Saturday. The West Jaintia Hills Election office has received only one nomination paper so far whereas none in East Jaintia Hills filed papers till Saturday.
Hundreds of Pariat’s supporters accompanied him to the DC’s office.
Filing of nominations for the 24 constituencies in Garo Hills continued to move at a snail’s pace with only one-third of the candidates submitting forms on the fourth day.
UDP candidates who filed their nominations in other districts on Saturday were Donkupar Sumer (Umsning), Olan Singh Suin (Mawsynram) and Brolding Nongsiej (Mawthadraishan).
Among the eight who filed their nominations were three NPP candidates in East Garo Hills.
NPP bigwig and Songsak strongman Shira, who will face Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, filed papers on Saturday.
Shira, who believes he can upset the Congress applecart, is seeking a third term from Songsak where he has remained undefeated in the last two consecutive elections.
Along with Shira were NPP’s Williamnagar candidate Marcuish N Marak and Rongjeng candidate Jim M Sangma.
Another former NPP leader and current deputy chairman of GHADC Mettrinson G Momin also filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Rongjeng constituency.
Momin resigned from the NPP after the party endorsed the candidature of Jim, who is the sibling of former NCP legislator Desang M Sangma.
Desang is contesting on NCP ticket.
In Tura, four candidates filed nominations in four different constituencies of West Garo Hills. Former Congress minister Sayedullah Nongrum filed his papers as an Independent from Tikrikilla. Nongrum had contested and lost the 2013 assembly elections from Rajabala as a Congress candidate.
This time he is seeking an entry from Tikrikilla where his son, Shamsher Nongrum, unsuccessfully contested the last elections.
Another candidate to file papers was Independent candidate Mark Goera B Marak from Phulbari. Goera is currently an elected MDC in the GHADC. He lost to Congress’s Abu Taher Mondal from Phulbari by a margin of 499 votes in the 2013 election.
The other Independent candidates who filed nominations were Droming Ch Marak for Selsella, Nehru D Sangma for Gambegre and Rophul S Marak for Rongara Siju. Rophul filed a second set of nomination papers on Saturday.
No nominations were filed in North, East and South West Garo Hills districts.
(With inputs from Jowai and Tura)
