Lok Sabha Elections 2019: NPP fields Agatha Sangma from Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya

Amid strain ties in the ruling alliance, the National People’s Party (NPP) on Friday declared the names of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019 in Meghalaya. The party has fielded former MP Agatha K Sangma from the crucial Tura parliamentary seat in Meghalaya. Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker late Purno Agitok Sangma, represented Tura Lok Sabha seat for more than two years, before he took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Meghalaya on March 6, 2018. Since 1977 and until his demise, with the exception of 1989 and 2009, late Sangma had represented the Tura seat for nine terms.

With 2019 Lok Sabha Elections just round the corner, a sharp difference emerged in the NPP-led six-party Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), with the regional parties deciding to support a UDP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat and the BJP saying it would put up its own nominee.

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) comprises of the National People’s Party (NPP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSDP), the BJP and the Independents.

Besides, the NPP has released the list of candidates for Manipur, with Thangminlien Kipgen, former Minister in Manipur government, being fielded from Outer Manipur constituency. The party has also announced that Ferlene CA Sangma will be the party candidate for the byelection of Selsella Assembly seat in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district.

National People’s Party (NPP) has declared the names of candidates for #LokSabhaElections2019 for Manipur & Meghalaya constituencies.Former MP Agatha K Sangma will contest from Tura constituency & former Minister in Manipur govt,Thangminlien Kipgen from Outer Manipur constituency

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2019

The development came following the meeting of the central election committee, chaired by NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Delhi. It was attended by party leaders from various states in the north east region. Conrad also informed that the central election committee of the party has also decided to field Ferlene C A Sangma in the byelection for the Selsella seat.

Election to the two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya and byelection to the Selsella Assembly constituency will be held on April 11 while Manipur will vote for two MPs in two phases of the Lok Sabha elections on April 11 and April 18.