From Our Special Corresspondent
New Delhi: A day after declaration of the elections for the lone Rajya Sabha seat next month some of the aspirants whose names were mentioned in the news item in ST dated March 26, declined that they are in the race while few others left it to the State Party Unit and the High Command to decide the choice.
Former Minister, Manas Chaudhuri, who was the first to deny such a move said that he is well aware of the convention of rotating the lone seat between the dominant tribes of the state- the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos.
“There is no question of me even remotely trying for the seat in the Upper House. Just after the election results were declared, I had made an open statement reaffirming my commitment to serve the people in my own way,” Chaudhuri categorically stated.
Both the front runners- O L Nongtdu and Wansuk Syiem left the choice to the State Congress, meaning the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and MPCC President, D D Lapang along with the AICC to take a final call. After all the final decision will be taken by Sonia Gandhi in consultation with the state leaders, they said.
Considering that the Congress has a majority in the House the seat is certain to go to the ruling party.
But the Opposition parties which are now more or less united
parties which are now more or less united are also considering the option of putting up a common candidate if the ruling Congress goes ahead with any arbitrary decision, a prominent opposition MLA said.
“Talks have started on this issue among the like minded opposition parties,” he said.
“The Election Commission has decided to hold a bye-election to the Council of States from Meghalaya, to fill up the vacancy left by the former member Mr Thomas Sangma who resigned his seat to fight the state assembly elections. Thomas lost his Assembly seat. The date scheduled for the Rajya Sabha elections is April 18 next.
The other aspirants could not be contacted.