Shillong, May 5: The National People’s Party (NPP) will name its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election in one or two days’ time, the party’s state youth president Wailadmiki Shylla informed today.
The NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh came third in the general election in 2024, some way behind the victor, Ricky AJ Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party (VPP). Syngkon’s sudden death in February has necessitated the by-poll.
Shylla said that the NPP is in the final stages of choosing its candidate.
Meanwhile, on the subject of a new Rajya Sabha MP, Shylla said that discussions are still ongoing.
The party has four or five names from which to choose, the latest being that of former cabinet minister and brother to the sitting Chief Minister, James PK Sangma.
Wanweiroy Kharlukhi is the current upper house MP but his term will end in June and he is not seeking re-election. As the NPP and its allies have a massive majority in the Meghalaya Assembly, the party’s choice should sail through the election, which should be a mere formality.
On speculation that this time the Rajya Sabha seat would go to a Garo individual, Shylla said that different regions will have various ways of thinking but it is up to the party high command to decide who is the best fit to send to Delhi.
