Shillong, May 17: National People’s Party (NPP) MLA from Phulbari constituency, S.G. Esmatur Mominin said it was a “big mistake” for former chief minister Mukul Sangma for fielding his own daughter, Miani Dalbot Shira as the Congress candidate for the Ampati bye-election slated for May 28.

Speaking to reporters, Mominin said that Mukul should have instead given chance to some leaders from Ampati constituency who had supported him in the last 25 years.

According to the Phulbari MLA, the two communities – Hajong and Koch were expecting that after supporting Mukul for the last 25 years, he should have given a chance to their leaders to contest.

“Instead, he (Mukul) is fielding his own daughter which is not acceptable to majority of the people in Ampati constituency. The Garo community also thought in the same way,” Mominin said.

Moreover, Mominin said that Mukul’s daughter is from Tura and not from the constituency.

The NPP is fielding former school teacher, Clement G Momin as the candidate in the bye election that witnesses a three cornered contest.

“If the two factors work, then an outcome from the bye-election will be in favour of the NPP. The NPP has a strong chance to win the bypoll. Our party candidate was a school teacher and the people also have high respect for him in the constituency,” Mominin said, though he accepted that the fight would be tough for the candidates of both Congress and NPP.

Besides Momin and Shira, another candidate, Subhankar Koch is contesting as an Independent.

The bypoll was necessitated after Dr Mukul who won both Ampati and Songsak seats in the February-27 Assembly elections, gave up Ampati, and but remained as the MLA of Songsak in East Garo Hills district.