Seeking to regain lost ground, the Congress on Saturday night announced its second and final list of five candidates for the Meghalaya Assembly election, slated for February 27.
The second list included a woman – Jhanika Siangshai from the Khliehriat Assembly constituency, once the hub of the rat-hole coal mining industry. The Congress had nominated 10 women in the first list of 55 candidates. Meghalaya has a total of 60 Assembly seats.
The other candidates named are Arbiangkam Khar Sohmat from the Amlarem constituency, Chireng Peter R. Marak from Kharkutta, Tweel K. Marak from Resubelpara and Carla R. Sangma from Rajabala.
Announcing the names, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Vincent H. Pala said the party would not hold mega rallies or bring in star campaigners despite about 80% of the candidates being fresh faces.
“We are going for grassroots connect as people in Meghalaya prefer to be acquainted with their candidates than the parties they belong to,” he told presspersons in the State capital Shillong.
Mr. Pala is contesting from the Sutnga-Saipung constituency in the East Jaintia Hills district.
List of candidates from other parties
The Trinamool Congress was the first party to announce candidates for the Meghalaya election with a list of 52 candidates.
The National People’s Party, which heads the coalition government in the State, has also announced its list which comprises 58 candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to announce its list. “We expect the list by January 31,” State party president Ernest Mawrie said.
The last date for filing nominations is February 7. The counting of votes will be held on March 2.
