Shillong : National People’s Party (NPP) leader and former legislator James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma on Monday filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections before Malthus S. Sangma, Secretary, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
He was accompanied by Hon’ble Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K. Sangma, Cabinet Ministers of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, MLAs and alliance partners.
Sangma is the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance candidate, and representatives from all alliance partners, including the UDP, BJP, HSPDP and independent MLAs, were present to extend their support to his candidature.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Sangma thanked the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, MLAs and alliance partners for supporting his candidature.
Sangma said that if he is elected as Rajya Sabha MP designate he intends to be vocal in the Upper House on issues pending for a long time and matters that will emerge for the state in future, so that the voice of Meghalaya is heard.
Sangma expressed gratitude for being unanimously selected by the MDA government and stated that he is ready to take up any responsibility entrusted to him. He added that the consensus to project him as the MDA candidate was arrived at after discussions among all alliance partners.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that if the NPP candidate is elected as the next Rajya Sabha MP, he will take up issues important to the people of the state and participate actively in legislation and debates in the Rajya Sabha.
“We expect the MP to act as a bridge between the state government and the Central government on various issues that the state needs to pursue. I am confident he will discharge that responsibility,” the Chief Minister stated.
He further said that if elected, the new MP will pursue implementation of the Inner Line Permit and other pending matters concerning the state.
“As a government and as a party, we have ensured that these matters are taken up aggressively,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that the elected MP will play a critical role in raising issues taken up by the state government, including inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule, matters relating to the Sixth Schedule, FCRA Amendment, illegal immigration, Inner Line Permit, and the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act.
“The MP will play a very critical role in pushing our concerns at Parliament and at the level of the Government of India,” he added
