Former Dadenggre legislator James Sangma ruled out the possibility of him contesting the Assembly by-election from Gambegre constituency and slammed media reports of a family rift.
“To clarify and settle the matter once and for all, I have had no intention of contesting in the Gambegre bye-polls,” Sangma said in a press statement today. He said he had also clarified his stance during party meetings and internal communication.
Media reports had suggested that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s wife, Mehtab Chandee is among the top contenders for the ticket to upcoming Gambegre by-poll and that his elder brother James was unhappy with moves by the party to allot the party ticket to Mehtab.
“It is shameful to see how news media organizations, some of which are nearly 80 years old and led by senior journalists, can publish articles on their front page and social media accounts without the slightest clarification on where they are getting their sources from or how they are privy to such information,” he said.
However, James urged media organisations to check their sources before trying to insinuate and label people and organisations according to their own convenience, which according to him smacks of mala fide intentions.
On Friday, Conrad who is also the national president of the NPP had made it clear that there is no division either in his family or the party over the candidature for the Assembly by-election from Gambegre constituency.
According to the NPP national president, everyone in the party has confirmed that they are with the party and whatever decision the party takes that will be the final decision and they will abide by it.
It may be mentioned that the NPP on June 27 had shortlisted four names, among which one will be finalised as the party’s candidate for the Gambegre by-poll. The name of the final contender is likely to be revealed shortly.
The Gambegre Assembly seat fell vacant after the resignation of sitting MLA Saleng A. Sangma following his election to the Lok Sabha from Tura parliamentary seat. The Election Commission is yet to announce the date for the by-election.
