By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader OL Nongtdu on Monday said he was not in the race for the Rajya Sabha seat.
“The matter to select the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat would be discussed at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP),” Nongtdu told reporters.
“After the CLP finalises the name of the candidate it would be forwarded to the AICC for final approval,” Nongtdu said.
Earlier, it was reported that Nongtdu and former Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope have emerged as strong contenders for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya.
Pyngrope was the two-time Congress legislator (2003-2013) and had held the post of Speaker in the eighth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, while Nongtdu is a former Rajya Sabha MP (1996 to 2002) as well as a former legislator.
Besides Pyngrope and Nongtdu, other probable names include those of John F Kharshiing, Bijon Kumar Dey Sawian, Oris Lyngdoh, Ms Wansuk Syiem (member of the National Commission for Women), KK Dkhar and Polycarp Marak.
The Rajya Sabha seat became vacant after the resignation of Thomas A Sangma who unsuccessfully contested the recent Assembly polls in the State from North Tura constituency on an NPP ticket.
Sangma was elected to the Rajya Sabha on an NCP ticket during the then Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government on March 26, 2008.
Sangma’s term as a Rajya Sabha MP was to end on April 12, 2014.
