4 by-polls in 3 months keep parties busy

SHILLONG: The state has witnessed two by-polls since the last general elections to 59 Assembly seats in February and is preparing for two more in Ranikor and South Tura.
There is no rest for the political parties in Meghalaya and the situation is similar for the election machinery, especially Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor who is yet to take any vacation following the back-to-back by-polls after the February 27 general elections.
Again, there will be Lok Sabha polls next year and it is yet to be known whether there will be any by-poll for the Tura Lok Sabha seat once Chief Minister Conrad Sangma resigns as MP.
The by-election to the Williamnagar Assembly constituency, which was postponed following the sudden death of NCP candidate Jonathone Sangma, was held on April 27.
On May 28, another by-election for Ampati, the constituency of former chief minister Mukul Sangma, was held.
The state was in for two major political developments with the resignation of veteran Congressman Martin M Danggo and NPP politician Agatha Sangma on June 21 and July 2, respectively.
Danggo resigned as MLA of Ranikor and will contest the by-poll from NPP. Agatha resigned from South Tura seat making way for her brother and chief minister to get elected to the Assembly.
In the case of Conrad, he was sworn in as the chief minister on March 6, which means he will have to be elected as MLA before September 6.
It was reported that Conrad does not have to quit the post of MP to contest the by-poll in the state.
According to the Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership, 1950, a seat in Parliament can be vacated within 14 days from the date of election of the MLA.
A Member of Parliament can still continue in office and contest the Assembly polls but ultimately he will have to quit one post.
The rule says a person has to become a member of the Assembly within six months from the date of his election as the CM.