Meghalaya polls: Sangma files nomination from Tura assembly seat

Shillong, Feb 14 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP Chief Ministerial candidate Purno Agitok Sangma today filed his nomination papers from the prestigious Tura assembly constituency for the March 3 Meghalaya assembly elections.

Mr Sangma's eldest son James K Sangma and his younger son Conrad K Sangma also filed their nomination papers from Ronchugiri and Selsella constituencies respectively.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker decided to return to state politics last year to revive his fledgling career through Meghalaya which had been witnessing change of chief ministers for the past one decade.

''I am confident of winning the election and lead Meghalaya for a change,'' the tallest tribal political leader from the North East told UNI by phone.

Mr Sangma, who never lost an election since entering electoral politics in the 1970s, will have to battle it out with Independent MLA Billykid Sangma and member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council John Leslee Sangma.

Mr James Sangma will be pitted against Congress MLA Beckstar K Sangma, who also happens to be his maternal uncle. Mr Beckstar Sangma, who won 2003 assembly polls on an NCP ticket, split from the party and joined Congress with five other NCP legislators.

Mr Conrad Sangma, an IT expert, had already bitten dust in electoral politics two years ago when he lost to Congress MLA Clement Marak in the Selsella assembly bypoll.

''This time, I am confident of representing Selsella,'' Mr Conrad said.

Apart from the Sangmas, former Chief Minister F A Khonglam, whom the NCP leader had chosen to lead the People's Forum of Meghalaya on December 7, 2001, also filed his nomination from Sohra as a Hill State People's Democratic Party candidate.

Dr Khonglam, who was denied an NCP ticket in the last assembly election, decided to contest on an HSPDP ticket.

Assembly Speaker Martin M Danggo of the Congress also filed his nomination papers from Langrin constituency. He will be pitted against the United Democratic Party candidate Khranglin Lyngkhoi.

Sacked Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member, Hispreaching Son Shylla filed his papers from Nongkrem as an Independent. The Congress had denied him a ticket in favour of Union Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah's son Waibha K Kyndiah.

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