TURA: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma filed his nomination papers to contest the South Tura constituency on Tuesday afternoon. This is the first time the younger son of Late P A Sangma is contesting from the prestigious Tura seat which was vacated by youngest sister Agatha K Sangma.
A confident chief minister was welcomed by hordes of NPP supporters who had gathered outside the premises of the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura shortly after 1:30 in the afternoon.
Prior to his arrival at the returning officer’s office, the chief minister first headed to the Catholic Cemetery near Bishop House to offer prayers at his father’s grave. Lighting a candle and placing a bouquet of flowers on the grave of P A Sangma, a visibly moved Conrad Sangma offered a silent prayer.
Later, accompanied by North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma, GHADC CEM Dipul R Marak and a host of party functionaries, the chief minister filed three sets of nomination papers before the Returning Officer Ms. Sabrella B Marak.
Former deputy CEM Augustine Marak of the Garo National Council (GNC), an alliance partner of the NPP in the GHADC, also accompanied the chief minister during the filing of nomination.
Following in the footsteps of Late P A Sangma, who made it a point to visit the Tura Bar Association office before filing nomination and interact with the lawyers fraternity of which he was once a member, Conrad Sangma emulated his father spending some time with the lawyers before heading to the Returning Officer’s room to file his nomination.
The chief minister was later presented with a traditional Garo jacket and headgear by women NPP supporters before he headed for the NPP office in Hawakhana where he addressed a large gathering of party workers and supporters.
South Tura will go to polls on August 23rd and results will be declared on August 27th. The last date for filing of nominations is August 6th with Withdrawal of candidature slated for August 9th. So far, besides NPP candidate and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma who has already filed his nomination, nomination papers have been taken by the Congress and two other aspirants, namely former legislator John Leslee K Sangma and Independent Chris Kabul Sangma.
The chief minister’s candidature for South Tura has been backed by the regional UDP, NCP, BJP and the GNC. Former Tura legislator Billykid A Sangma, who came a close second and was defeated by Agatha Sangma in South Tura has also endorsed the chief minister’s candidature.