MDA to decide on a consensus candidate for lone Rajya Sabha Seat

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 27, 2020

The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has constituted a sub-committee to be headed by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for arriving at a consensus candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, election of which will be held on March 26.

After chairing the meeting of MDA coordination committee here on Thursday, Sangma told reporters that opinions of all the coalition partners were taken after a detailed discussion on the matter.

“We have decided that whatever the case may be the MDA will be united and MDA will have only one candidate and discussion must take place at different levels,” he said.

To facilitate this, the chief minister said a sub committee has been formed under his convernership and other members include UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh and PP leaders of the PDF, BJP, HSPDP, NCP and Independents.

“The sub-committee will be meeting on Monday and take the discussion forward and ensure a unanimous decision is taken. We are hopeful to be able to come up with the name of the MDA candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat,” he said.

Asked, Sangma who is also the chairman of the MDA said that some names were discussed during the meeting but it will not be appropriate for him to make them public at this juncture.

According to him, all political parties in the MDA will have their individual meetings in the next two-three days before the sub-committee finally sits next week.

The NPP is proposing its state president Dr WR Kharlukhi as the candidate. Dr Kharlukhi, who earlier declined the proposal, had informed that he had accepted the offer and is ready to abide by the party decision.

On the other hand, chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, John Kharshiing had also requested the MDA to consider nominating him as its candidate for the election.

Meanwhile, the meeting has also discussed on the upcoming budget session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly which will commence from March 13. The CM said all members are informed about the session and how to accordingly prepare.