Push for Garo representative bolsters James Sangma’s prospect
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 31: Ahead of the Rajya Sabha election for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Meghalaya, scheduled on June 18, the BJP has decided to support a common candidate of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA).
Traditionally, the Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya has been shared alternately between the Garo Hills and the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. With the current term of incumbent MP Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi coming to an end, it is now the turn of the Garo Hills to send its representative to the Upper House of Parliament.
NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s elder brother, James P.K. Sangma, is leading the race for the ticket. The party’s Garo MLAs are strongly pushing for a leader from the Garo community to represent Meghalaya in Parliament.
Political observers note that there is currently no serious contender from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills to challenge James Sangma’s candidature. Although the name of NPP leader Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang
Is doing the rounds, the BJP’s decision to support the MDA’s consensus candidate has further bolstered James Sangma’s prospects.
The NPP is yet to finalise its candidate. Party leaders are expected to hold discussions in the coming days before announcing the official nominee.
Given its majority in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly and the support of allied parties, the NPP is comfortably placed to ensure the victory of its candidate.
Hoping that the alliance would field a consensus candidate, BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said his party, which has only two MLAs in the Assembly, will not field any candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls.
“We will have to support a consensus candidate. We hope there will be a consensus candidate after consultations,” Kharkrang said on Sunday.
Shillong Bypoll
Meanwhile, nine aspirants have applied for the BJP ticket to contest the upcoming by-election to the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency.
Kharkrang, considered the frontrunner for the ticket, said the party would shortlist three probable candidates before finalising the name.
“We are allowing everyone to apply. Just because other parties have announced their candidates, it does not mean that we should be in a hurry,” he said.
In a recent meeting, BJP leaders passed a resolution requesting the central leadership to allow the party to contest the Shillong seat this time. In the 2024 general election, the BJP had opted not to field a candidate and instead supported NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh, who finished third behind Voice of the People Party’s Ricky A.J. Syngkon and Congress candidate Vincent H. Pala.
Syngkon’s sudden death has necessitated the bypoll.
“We would like to work for our own party candidate rather than supporting other parties with different ideologies and beliefs,” Kharkrang said, adding that no party should be overestimated or underestimated in the upcoming contest.
Regarding senior leaders Jemino Mawthoh, P.N. Syiem, and Mohendro Rapsang, who were expected to join the BJP, Kharkrang said they have sought more time to consult their supporters.
“They are going to join the party, but they want to take their supporters into confidence first, and we have to be fair to them,” he added.
