The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has approved the name of Jingjang M. Marak as the party’s candidate for the Gambegre Assembly by-election which will be held on November 13.
The name of Marak was approved by the Congress high command after his candidature was proposed earlier by the State party leadership. State Congress president Vincent H. Pala was in New Delhi since yesterday to discuss with Kharge and other leaders about the ticket for Gambegre by-poll.
Gambegre seat fell vacant after the resignation of sitting Congress MLA Saleng A. Sangma on June 10 following his election as Lok Sabha MP from the Tura parliamentary seat.
Already, NPP and Trinamool Congress have announced their candidates for the by-election.
The NPP candidate is Mehtab Chandee Sangma, wife of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. The Trinamool Congress nominee is Sadhiarani M. Sangma, wife of former minister Zenith Sangma. She is also an MDC in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Meanwhile, BJP leader and cabinet minister Alexander L. Hek today informed that the party will announce its candidate for the Gambegre by-poll after a meeting with the central party leadership on October 21.
Speaking to media persons here today, Hek said that there are two-three aspirants for the party ticket.
“We are going for a meeting in Delhi on October 21. We also have had virtual discussions with the party leaders to set up the candidate for the by-election,” Hek said, adding that the party would finalise the name of the candidate after the meeting with the central leadership in Delhi.
Recently, State BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N. Marak, had expressed his keenness to contest the Gambegre by-poll.
The election process for Gambegre will begin with the issuance of notification on October 18. The last date for filing nominations is October 25. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 28. The date for withdrawal of nominations is October 30. The results will be declared on November 23.
Already, the model code of conduct is in force throughout West Garo Hills where Gambegre Assembly constituency is located.
