Shillong, June 8: National People’s Party (NPP) leader and former legislator James Pangsang Kongkal (P.K.) Sangma on Monday filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections before Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretary Malthus S. Sangma.
Sangma was accompanied by Chief Minister and NPP National President Conrad K. Sangma, Cabinet Ministers of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), MLAs, and leaders of alliance partners during the filing of his nomination.
The former legislator is the official candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance for the Rajya Sabha seat. Representatives of all alliance partners, including the United Democratic Party (UDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), and independent MLAs, were present to extend their support to his candidature.
Speaking after filing his nomination, James P.K. Sangma expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, MLAs, and alliance partners for unanimously supporting his candidature.
He said that if elected to the Rajya Sabha, he would be a strong voice for Meghalaya in the Upper House and would actively raise long-pending issues as well as emerging concerns affecting the state.
Sangma stated that he was honoured by the confidence reposed in him by the MDA government and affirmed his readiness to shoulder any responsibility entrusted to him. He added that the decision to field him as the alliance candidate was reached through consensus among all coalition partners.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the prospective Rajya Sabha MP would play an important role in representing Meghalaya’s interests at the national level and ensuring that key issues concerning the state receive attention from the Central Government.
“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 said.
He further stated that if elected, James P.K. Sangma would pursue important matters concerning Meghalaya, including the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, issues related to the Sixth Schedule, amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), illegal immigration, and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).
The Chief Minister said the new Rajya Sabha MP would play a critical role in advancing Meghalaya’s concerns in Parliament and before the Government of India while actively participating in legislative debates and discussions in the Upper House.
