Shillong, Aug 9: Partners of the ruling coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) decided to extend support to the candidature of chief minister, Conrad K Sangma in the upcoming South-Tura bye-election, while fighting among themselves in Ranikor constituency.

Both South Tura and Ranikor constituencies will go to bye elections on August 23, and counting of votes on August 27.

Speaking to reporters after the MDA meeting here on Thursday, PDF leader and Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling said, “We want the chief minister to win from South Tura constituency.”

Conrad, also the National People’s Party (NPP) national president and Tura MP, will contest the seat following the resignation of his sister, Agatha K Sangma as MLA of South-Tura on July 2.

The meeting was attended by leaders of the six political parties which include NPP, United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), People Democratic Front (PDF), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Independents.

However, the MDA partners have maintained that they would fight with each other in the Ranikor bye-election.

“In Ranikor constituency, we will be all out in supporting our own candidate, P. N. Syiem,” Dohling said.

In similar line, UDP leader and Tourism minister Metbah Lyngdoh said, “We too we will be supporting our own candidate, Pius Marwein.”

The candidates of the UDP and PDF would be contesting against five-time legislator of Ranikor Martin M Danggo who is seeking re-election to retain the seat on National People’s Party (NPP) ticket.

NPP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong however said, “This is what we called real democracy.”

Tynsong maintained that the coalition partners have decided to support Conrad because he is the chief minister and everyone would like to see the MDA government last till the end of the term and even beyond.