Shillong, Jun 3: James PK Sangma is practically a shoe-in to be the next Rajya Sabha MP for Meghalaya after he was named as the choice of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition partners.
The MDA is led by the National People’s Party (NPP), Sangma’s own party. As the NPP has a majority in the 60-member state Assembly, the only real uncertainty was who was going to be the party’s pick, with Sangma’s name doing the rounds as strong favourite, though a couple of politicians from Khasi-Jaintia Hills were also being considered.
As the incumbent, Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, is from Khasi-Jaintia Hills, there was a feeling within the NPP that Sangma should be given the seat.
The election is slated for June 18, though with the NPP and its allies’ backing, voting is a mere formality. He is expected to file his nomination papers on June 5.
Sangma’s nomination was reached today during a meeting of the MDA’s constituent parties.
Addressing the media after the meeting, MDA Parliamentary Party Secretary and West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh said various alliance partners had initially suggested names from their respective parties for consideration. However, with no unanimous agreement emerging on a common nominee, the coalition opted to follow the established convention of supporting the candidate proposed by the largest party in the alliance.
Accordingly, all constituents agreed to endorse Sangma, whose candidature was put forward by the NPP.
His younger brother, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, described the decision as a collective one taken by all alliance partners and stressed that James Sangma should now be regarded as the official candidate of the alliance rather than of any individual party.
There will be no consensus on the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, the date of which has yet to be announced. The NPP and United Democratic Party (UDP) have already named their respective candidates, with another MDA member, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also expected to do so shortly.
Meanwhile, Sangma expressed gratitude towards the MDA for endorsing him as their common candidate for the upcoming election.
“I am deeply humbled by the decision of the NPP and our alliance partners in the MDA to back my candidature as the common candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha MP,” Sangma wrote on X.
