6 candidates in the fray for Shella by poll

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 30, 2019

SHILLONG: A total of 6 candidates are in the fray for the bye election to the Shella Assembly seat, filing of nominations which came to a close on Monday evening. 

KHADC member from Nongshken Grace Mary Kharpuri was one among the four candidates who submitted their nomination papers before the Returning Officer L Kynjing at Sohra on the last day of filing of nominations. 

Kharpuri, also the lone woman in the race, has decided to contest as an Independent candidate after she was denied ticket by the Congress. 

The other candidates include Joshua Warjri from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mosjo Rockfeller Wanswett of the People’s Democratic Front and Batyngshain Laitmon Ryngnga of the Congress.

The bye-election is necessitated following the death of former Assembly Speaker and former United Democratic Party chief late Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28. 

Dr Donkupar was the longest serving legislator of Shella constituency for the last 31 years. He was elected for the seventh consecutive time in the 2018 Assembly elections. 

The UDP is fielding his son Balajied Kupar Synrem to retain the seat with the backing of the ruling National People’s Party and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party.

Komen Laitmon, a known social worker from Shella has also filed his nomination papers as Independent candidate, last week. Komen was a former HSPDP leader from the constituency. 

Meanwhile, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on Tuesday while withdrawal of candidature is on October 3. 

The bye election to Shella will be held on October 21, and counting of votes will take place on October 24.