Shillong June 17: All partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance MDA (government), except one MLA, have unanimously agreed to support the candidature of Dr Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls slated for June 19.
Speaking to reporters after the MDA meeting on Wednesday night, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said that all political parties and MLAs supporting the MDA government have expressed their support for Dr Kharlukhi and he thanked the partners for their support.
Sangma said that the meeting was also part of the training for all the MLAs to ensure that no mistake is made and they vote correctly on the polling day.
On the stand of North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum who decided to abstain on the polling day as a protest against the candidature of Dr Kharlukhi, who is the NPP Meghalaya president as the NPP had voted in favour of the CAA in Lok Sabha, the chief minister said that as coalition partners, the decision to support Dr Kharlukhi was unanimous and termed Nongrum’s stand as his individual decision.
“Nongrum has taken his individual stand and we respect his stand, but as MDA partners, we all are supporting Dr Kharlukhi as the candidate and we are confident of victory on June 19,” the chief minister said.
On the opposition Congress that fields former Mawphlang MLA, Kennedy C Khyriem as the candidate and hoped of winning the election, Sangma said that no candidate or party would say that they don’t have the support or they won’t win.
“But the writing is on the wall, there’s no issue at all (as all partners of the MDA are supporting Dr Kharlukhi). We respect the opposition, and they have the right to put up the candidate and fight. But in this particular election, it is very clear the support for Dr Kharlukhi. Once again we are thankful to all the MDA partners and we are confident of winning the election on June 19,” the chief minister added.
Meanwhile Nongrum said that he attended the MDA meeting to clear his stand and he would not cast his vote on June 19.
Nongrum said that he cannot support the stand taken by the MDA partners, though he is part of the coalition government, alleging the NPP which is fielding Dr Kharlukhi as the candidate, of supporting the CAA in Lok Sabha.
The lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya has to be filled up after the tenure of the current Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader, Wansuk Syiem expired on April 12 this year.
The election was to be conducted on March 26, but postponed it in view of the outbreak of Coronavirus which led to the imposition of the nation wide lockdown to prevent its spread.