Shillong, Jun 11: National People’s Party (NPP) leader James PK Sangma was on Thursday elected unopposed to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya.
Sangma, who is also the common candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by his brother, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, received the election certificate from returning officer Malthus Sangma, as no other candidates contested for the seat.
The election to the Upper House seat was announced, as the term of incumbent Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi would expire this month.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the election is both an honour and a significant responsibility to represent the state in the upper house of parliament. “I am deeply humbled by the trust placed in me. Representing Meghalaya in the Rajya Sabha is a huge responsibility, and I intend to discharge my duties with complete dedication and sincerity,” he stated.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by lawmakers from the Northeast, noting their often limited representation in parliament. However, he said he would persistently push for greater opportunities to highlight concerns affecting Meghalaya and the Northeast.
“Because of our smaller numbers, getting sufficient space to speak on regional issues can be difficult. But I believe patience and persistence are important. I will continue to seek more opportunities to raise matters concerning Meghalaya and the Northeast in Parliament,” he said.
Sangma outlined his commitment to advocating for greater attention to regional issues, including the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
He pointed out that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had already adopted a resolution on ILP and said it would be his responsibility as a representative of the state to carry the matter forward in the Rajya Sabha.
“The demand for inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule remains important for Meghalaya. Likewise, the ILP resolution passed by the Assembly deserves to be pursued at the national level, and I will continue to raise the matter,” he said.
Sangma also said he would work closely with the centre to help Meghalaya benefit from various government schemes and programmes, using his position in New Delhi to facilitate engagement with different ministries and departments.
Responding to reports suggesting unhappiness among some Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) partners over his candidature, Sangma dismissed the claims, saying the alliance had ultimately arrived at a unanimous decision.
He pointed out that leaders from coalition partners had accompanied him during the filing of his nomination papers, adding that discussions and differing opinions were a natural part of a democratic process.
“There may have been different names under consideration, but that is part of democracy. In the end, there was consensus and collective support for the decision,” he said.
Sangma further stated that the interests of Meghalaya would remain the guiding principle of his tenure as a Member of Parliament, stressing that every issue he takes up would be evaluated on the basis of its benefit to the people and the state.
