At least six former government officials have indicated their desire to contest the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly elections in 2023.
Three of them were senior engineers in the PWD (Roads).
According to sources, former PWD executive engineer Playness Khiewtam will contest from Shella constituency on Trinamool Congress ticket.
Khiewtam hails from Umniuh Tmar village which falls under Shella constituency although it falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Pynursla civil sub-division.
Already Shella constituency has many contenders for the 2023 elections besides sitting MLA Balajied Kupar Synrem of UDP.
Another former PWD executive engineer who has decided to take the political plunge is Baiahunlang Makdoh.
Makdoh who served as executive engineer of PWD Sohra Division has sought UDP ticket to contest from Mawhati constituency.
Makdoh who hails from Mawrong village in Ri-Bhoi district will have sitting Congress MDC Charles Marngar as his main rival in the polls.
Moreover, PWD (Building) executive engineer Ransom Sutnga is also seeking NPP ticket to contest from North Shillong constituency.
At present, several candidates are trying their luck from North Shillong.
Besides Sutnga, another government official who has made known his intention to contest is Inspector General of Prisons, Mariahom Kharkrang.
Kharkrang is among two aspirants for BJP ticket from the seat, the other being Martamlin Pyrbot.
Further, former District Transport Officer Harold F. Khongsit will contest from Sohra constituency on Trinamool Congress ticket.
Khongsit who hails from Kongthong village is also the President of Sohra Block Trinamool Congress.
He will be contesting against sitting MLA Gavin Miguel Mylliem who presently belongs to the PDF.
Meanwhile, former Joint Director, Water and Soil Conservation Department, Emlang Laloo will be the Congress candidate from Nartiang from Congress.
A resident of Saitsama village, Laloo has taken voluntary retirement.
He will be fighting against a giant and four-time MLA, Sniawbhalang Dhar of NPP. Dhar is also the cabinet minister in the current MDA government.
