MDA-II Backs James PK Sangma as Rajya Sabha Candidate for June 18 Poll

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA)-II today unanimously approved and selected former MLA and National Working President of the National People’s Party (NPP), James P.K. Sangma, as the official candidate of the MDA Government for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election to be held this month of June.

This decision was taken during a meeting of the MDA-II Parliamentary Party, which was attended by representatives from all the political parties within the MDA-II Government. The members of the MDA agreed together on the same candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya. As it stands today, the MDA enjoys the support of 51 representatives in the legislative assembly which consists of 60 members.

​Speaking to media persons, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “As you know, we were able to hold a meeting of the MDA 2 Parliamentary Party where MLAs from all the parties within the MDA II came to participate, and we were also able to take a few resolutions.”

​He added, “The filing of nominations will take place on the 5th of this month, and we have all agreed together that we will proceed according to the democratic process and allow the candidate from the party with the highest number of representatives to get the support.”

“The candidate we are proposing now is no longer the candidate of just one political party, but now he has been accepted through a collective resolution as the candidate of the MDA 2,” Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said.

​Speaking on the rationale behind the decision, the Secretary of the MDA-II Parliamentary Party, Paul Lyngdoh, stated that leaders of all the parties were briefed regarding the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 18 and the views of the NPP leaders on this matter.

​During the discussions, the representatives of the parties within the MDA expressed their desire to have candidates from their own respective parties considered for approval as the MDA candidate. However, because multiple names were brought forward and there was no consensus on a single candidate, the ruling alliance decided to follow the established convention of past times to support the candidate put forward by the largest constituent party within the MDA II.

According to the resolution adopted in the meeting, the decision was taken to ensure unity within the alliance and to maintain established parliamentary practices. The meeting subsequently approved the proposal of the NPP and decided collectively to support James P.K. Sangma as the Rajya Sabha candidate representing the MDA-II.

The meeting was attended by NPP National President Conrad K. Sangma and Meghalaya NPP President Prestone Tynsong on behalf of the NPP; Paul Lyngdoh and Lahkmen Shylla representing the United Democratic Party (UDP); Sanbor Shullai and A.L. Hek representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Methodius Dkhar and Shakliar Warjri representing the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP); and Independent MLA Renington G. Momin.
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With the backing of all the parties within the Government, James P.K. Sangma will stand as the consensus candidate of the MDA II for the Rajya Sabha, which significantly strengthens his prospects in the election scheduled for June 18.