SHILLONG, JUN 8: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said the Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya will play a critical role in raising the state’s key concerns at the Centre, while expressing confidence that MDA’s candidate James K Sangma has the numbers to win the election.
Speaking after James Sangma filed his nomination, the chief minister thanked MDA partners for their unanimous support.
“I would like to congratulate James Sangma for filing his nomination, and I would like to thank all the partners in the MDA for having unanimously and with consensus supported the candidature of James Sangma. Today, most partners were present during the nomination,” he said.
On the prospect of other candidates, Sangma said the position would be clear once nominations close.
“Regarding other candidates, we are not very sure. We will have to wait for a few hours; the picture will be very clear. So, whatever it may be, we are very confident that if there is a candidature, the MDA has the necessary strength to ensure that our candidate wins in this MP Rajya Sabha election,” he said.
The chief minister listed a range of issues he expects the MP to take up, from state-specific concerns to national legislation.
“When it comes to issues, we feel that there are multiple issues that the MP should bring up. I am sure that James Sangma will successfully bring up those issues. The issues will range from everything that is socially and politically important to our people and our state, and also issues related to different schemes and government programmes. He will also actively participate in different legislation and debates in Parliament,” Sangma said.
He stressed that the MP’s role as a link between Shillong and New Delhi would be crucial for pushing Meghalaya’s agenda at the ministry level.
“All these will be very important responsibilities that the MP will have. We also expect that the MP will act as the bridge between the state government and the central government, where different issues that the state has to take up at the ministry level. I am sure the MP will take up the issues at different levels,” he added.
Sangma said the state government would continue to pursue its core demands aggressively, and the MP would carry them forward in Parliament.
“It is very important to us. That is why whenever there is an opportunity, we as a government and as a party take up the matter very aggressively. Being an MP representing the MDA and Meghalaya, the MP will play a critical role in raising all the issues that we have taken up, whether it is the Eighth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, FCRA amendment, and the issue of illegal immigration, and matters like ILP, MRSSA. The MP will play a crucial role in taking up these matters at the Parliament and Government of India level,” he said.
The chief minister also addressed the absence of some MDA allies at the nomination, attributing it to scheduling changes and a bereavement in the family of a Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
“There are no differences, nothing like that. Everybody has their programmes. As you are aware, the nomination was supposed to be on the 6th but it was changed. The other MDA members who were supposed to be here could not make it, and at the same time there is an incident where one of our Deputy CM’s family lost their close relatives, so there is a funeral programme. So, there is a situation where some members who were supposed to be here could not attend,” Sangma said.
He added that James Sangma’s six-year Rajya Sabha term would give the state consistent representation at the national level.
“The fact that he will represent our state in the Rajya Sabha, it is a six-year term, so it is clear that he will be representing the state for six years,” the chief minister said.
