TURA: The Tura legislative seat has been represented by a chief minister only once since the creation of the state — 1988 to 1990.
When Purno Agitok Sangma took over as the chief minister of Meghalaya in 1988, he was an elected Lok Sabha MP representing Tura. He resigned from his parliamentary seat and was appointed as the chief minister while Sanford K Marak was chosen to replace him in the Lok Sabha.
Purno Sangma went on to win the by-election and become the first MLA from Tura constituency to head the state.
History is being repeated with Purno Sangma’s son, Conrad, contesting a similar by-poll as chief minister.
Conrad, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Tura, filed his nomination paper on Tuesday afternoon for the by-poll to South Tura seat, which was vacated by his sister Agatha K Sangma.
Hordes of NPP supporters welcomed the chief minister, who looked confident, outside the premises of the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura shortly after 1.30pm.
Prior to his arrival at the office, Conrad first went to the Catholic Cemetery near Bishop House to offer prayers at his father’s grave. He lighted a candle and placed a bouquet of flowers on the grave of PA Sangma and 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 returning officer 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.
The chief minister was later presented with a traditional Garo jacket and headgear by women supporters of NPP before he headed for the party office at Hawakhana. He addressed a large gathering of party workers and supporters.
So far, besides Conrad, 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 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.
South Tura will go to polls on August 23 and results will be declared on August 27. The last date for filing of nominations is August 6 with withdrawal of candidature slated for August 9.
