Shillong: James Sangma of the National People’s Party (NPP) was on Thursday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Meghalaya after no other candidate filed nomination papers for the lone parliamentary seat.
The election to the Rajya Sabha seat was scheduled to be held on June 18. However, with Sangma emerging as the sole candidate in the fray, Returning Officer and Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Malthus Sangma formally declared him elected unopposed on the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
James Sangma, a senior NPP leader and former state minister, was the official candidate of the ruling MDA-II government led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Speaking after his election, Sangma expressed gratitude to the legislators and the leadership of the ruling alliance for reposing faith in him. He said he would work to effectively represent Meghalaya’s interests in Parliament and raise issues concerning the state’s development and welfare.
The biennial election was necessitated as the tenure of incumbent Rajya Sabha member Dr Wanweiroy Kharlukhi is set to expire later this month. Kharlukhi, also from the NPP, completes his six-year term in June and had reportedly conveyed his desire to step away from active parliamentary politics after the end of his tenure.
The Election Commission had earlier notified the election schedule, with June 1 fixed for the issuance of the notification, June 8 as the last date for filing nominations, June 9 for scrutiny and June 11 for withdrawal of candidature. Polling and counting were scheduled for June 18.
The NPP-led ruling coalition enjoys a comfortable majority in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, making the retention of the Rajya Sabha seat a foregone conclusion. The absence of any opposition nominee further ensured Sangma’s smooth election to the Upper House without the need for voting.
With his unopposed victory, James P.K. Sangma will represent Meghalaya in the Rajya Sabha for the next six years, succeeding Dr Kharlukhi and strengthening the NPP’s presence in Parliament.
(IANS)
