TURA: Filing of nominations to the twenty-four assembly constituencies in the Garo Hills continues to move at a snail’s pace with only one-third of the candidates submitting forms on the fourth day of nomination on Saturday. Among the eight who filed their nomination, three candidates were of the National People’s Party in East Garo Hills district.
Leading the filing of nomination was NPP bigwig and Songsak strongman Nihim D Shira who is contesting in his most daring battle that against Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma from the same constituency. Shira, who believes he can upset the Congress applecart, is seeking a third term from Songsak where he has remained undefeated for the last two consecutive elections.
Along with Nihim D Shira were NPP’s Williamnagar candidate Marcuish N Marak and Jim M Sangma (NPP) contesting from Rongjeng assembly seat. 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 had resigned from the NPP after the party endorsed the candidature of Jim M Sangma. Interestingly, Jim happens to be the sibling of former NCP legislator Desang M Sangma who is also in the contest as a candidate of the Sharad Pawar led party.
In Tura, four candidates filed nomination in four different constituencies of West Garo Hills. Former Congress minister Sayedullah Nongrum filed his papers as an Independent from Tikrikilla constituency. Nongrum had contested and lost the 2013 assembly elections from Rajabala seat as the 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 his nomination papers was Mark Goera B Marak from Phulbari seat as an Independent candidate. Mark Goera is currently an elected MDC in the GHADC. He lost to Congress’s Abu Taher Mondol from Phulbari by 499 votes in the 2013 elections.
The other two Independent candidates who filed nomination were Droming Ch Marak for Selsella and Niru D Sangma for Gambegre. No candidates filed their nomination in North and South Garo Hills districts.
No nominations was filed in the three districts of North, East and South West Garo Hills districts.