By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 9: With Lok Sabha polls slated for 2024 beckoning nation, almost all heavyweights in the state are ready with their candidates for the two Parliamentary seats in Meghalaya — Shillong and Tura.
The TMC, however, is yet to declare their contestants for the two seats, although the party’s president, Charles Pyngrope, has expressed his choice of candidate to view for Shillong seat — George B Lyngdoh, who is the party’s vice president in the state.
Lyngdoh, who is likely to contest the Shillong seat especially after the party chief reposing confidence in him, on Saturday, said that the party is yet to take a decision.
“I feel humble…but we will have to sit and discuss it with the rank and file of the party and accordingly we can take a decision,” said Lyngdoh.
He said as of now, he could not express if he was in favour of the idea of him contesting the polls or against it.
Asked if he is open to the idea, he said, “I am a functionary of the party and it all depends on the party. I never had that intent, so we will see how the party will decide on it,” Lyngdoh said.
Pyngrope had recently pitched for party vice-president George B Lyngdoh as its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat while leaving it to the parliamentary party president, Mukul M Sangma, to decide on the Tura seat.
Pyngrope said the party would contest the Shillong and Tura seats although the TMC state unit is yet to discuss the poll plan with the TMC general secretary in charge, Manas Ranjan Bhunia.
For the NPP, incumbent MP Agatha Sangma is expected to seek re-election from the Tura seats. The party headed by her brother and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is yet to announce its candidate for the Shillong seat.
Congress, on the other hand, is pinning hopes on Vincent H Pala to retain the Shillong seat for a fourth time. The party has not named its candidate for Tura yet.
The Voice of the People Party has announced the candidature of its general secretary Ricky AJ Syngkon from the Shillong seat for the 2024 parliamentary polls.