Sangma to contest from Tura constituency, sons too join fray

Shillong, Feb 1 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma today formally applied for a ticket to contest Meghalaya's Assembly elections from the prestigious Tura Assembly constituency in the West Garo Hills district.

Mr Sangma's eldest son James K Sangma and his younger son Conrad K Sangma also applied for the party's ticket.

The senior leader's decision to return to Meghalaya politics and stake claim for chief ministership was expected in the backdrop of the ''inner-squabbles'' in the state Congress over the change of leadership.

But the return of this tallest Garo leader to Meghalaya's politics assumes significance with his two sons - James and Conrad - contesting the Assembly elections.

Meghalaya goes to polls next year.

James will be contesting from Ronchugiri constituency while Conrad will be fielded again from Selsella constituency, Mr Sangma told UNI over the phone.

Mr Sangma said the entrance of his two sons into electoral politics was based on the request of the people from both the constituencies.

Conrad, an IT expert, had already tasted bitterness in electoral politics two years ago when he lost the battle of ballots to Congress MLA Clement Marak in the Selsella assembly by-election.

Mr James will be pitted against sitting Congress MLA Beckstar K Sangma, who is also his maternal uncle.

Mr Beckstar, who won the last election on the NCP ticket had joined the Congress with other five NCP MLAs.

Mr Sangma, who has never lost a single election since his entrance into electoral politics in 1970s, will have to fight against sitting Independent MLA Billykid Sangma and sitting member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council John Leslee Sangma.

Meanwhile, senior NCP leaders today formally applied for the party's ticket to contest the state's Assembly elections in 24-assembly segments in the three districts of Garo Hills.

The NCP would officially declare the names of its 24 candidates on February 28 at Tura.

UNI