The Congress high command has cleared the name of party candidates for the upcoming Assembly by-elections for three constituencies in Meghalaya.
Former MLA Kennedy C. Khyriem was announced as the Congress candidate from Mawphlang seat, Highlander Kharmalki from Mawryngkneng seat and Hasina Yasmin Mondal from Rajabala seat.
The candidature of the three contestants was approved by AICC president Sonia Gandhi today.
It may be noted that the election committee of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) which met here yesterday had cleared the names and forwarded the same to the Congress high command for its approval.
The by-polls which will be held on October 30 are necessitated by the death of sitting MLAs – David Nongrum (Mawryngkneng), Syntar Klas Sun (Mawphlang) and Dr. Azad Zaman (Rajabala). The results will be announced on November 2.
It may be mentioned that the Mawryngkneng Block Congress Committee had earlier proposed the name of Kharmalki as the candidate for the by-poll from Mawryngkneng constituency. He was the lone aspirant for Congress ticket from the constituency.
Kharmalki also has the backing of senior Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope who had represented the seat for many years in the past before the seat was taken over by Pyngrope’s son David Nongrum in 2013.
Kharmalki had contested the 2018 Assembly elections on a PDF ticket and secured the second position. The seat was won by David Nongrum of Congress.
The Congress candidate from Mawphlang constituency Kennedy C. Khyriem had contested the 2018 polls but lost to independent candidate Syntar Klas Sunn by a margin of 718 votes.
Meanwhile, Hasina Yasmin Mondal, widow of former Rajabala MLA, Dr. Azad Zaman was put up as candidate due to pressure from most supporters who wanted her to replace her late husband in the Assembly.
