NCP likely to field Sangma's daughter for LS by-poll

Shillong, Apr 18 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is likely to field former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma's daughter Agatha K Sangma to contest the by-elections to the Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya.

The by-election, scheduled to be held on May 22, has been necessitated after Mr Sangma quit the Lok Sabha after being elected as MLA in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on March 8.

The nine-times MP said he had decided to returned to state politics to ensure all round development in the state.

''We are still in a consultation stage. We will consult our coalition partners in the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government and decide our nominee for the by-election to the Tura Lok Sabha seat,'' NCP president Dr W Kharlukhi said.

The NCP president said a few names had already been figured out, including Agatha K Sangma, as the possible nominee.

He added that the party's consultative committee would convene a meeting on April 21 to finalise the candidate.

Chief Electoral Officer P Naik today said filing of nominations would start on April 28.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress would meet on April 25 to finalise their nominee for the by-election.

UNI RRK DPM/src1151