NCP releases candidate's list for Meghalaya assembly polls

Shillong, Feb 27 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today officially declared the names of their 13 party candidates for the Meghalaya Assembly polls scheduled to be held next year.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma, who is leaving national politics and stake claim for chief ministership, is contesting from Tura assembly constituency, NCP state president W R Kharlukhi told reporters here.

Mr Sangma'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 in the state.

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

The NCP also allotted party ticket to Mr Sangma's eldest son James K Sangma and his younger son Conrad K Sangma.

James would contest from Ronchugiri constituency while Conrad would be fielded from Selsella constituency, Mr Kharluki said.

James would be pitted against sitting Congress MLA Beckstar K Sangma, who also happened to be his maternal uncle.

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

Conrad, an IT expert had already tasted his bitterness in electoral politics two years ago after he lost the battle to Congress MLA Clement Marak in Selsella by a margin of 182 votes.

Dr Kharlukhi said the NCP election committee had also allotted ticket to sitting party MLAs-- Admiral K Sangma, Desang M Sangma, Timothy D Shira, John Manner Marak, Edmund K Sangma and Masonsingh Sangma.

Former NCP Minister Adolf Lu Hitler R Marak have also been given the party ticket from Rangsakona constituency Meanwhile, the NCP said the names of the other candidates would be released shortly after the party's election committee assessment UNI