Shillong, July 2: South Tura MLA, Agatha K. Sangma tendered her resignation as member of the tenth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Monday to pave way for her brother and chief minister Conrad K Sangma to contest a bye election from the constituency.
Agatha submitted her resignation to Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira and the letter was later sent to the Speaker, Donkupar Roy.
Agatha’s resignation came within four months of her election from South Tura seat in the Assembly polls held on February 27 this year.
A notification issued by the Assembly Secretariat stated that Agatha has resigned as member of the House and the Speaker has accepted her resignation.
Agatha is the chairperson of the Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (MSCCSD).
The former Union minister and former Lok Sabha MP from Tura, said that her decision o resign as MLA was a collective decision taken for the greater interest of the state, the party and the government.
“The chief minister (Conrad) has to be elected to the Assembly by September, so a seat has to be vacated for him and South Tura happens to be one of the most convenient seats,†she said.
Conrad is the NPP national president and current Lok Sabha MP from Tura.
Conrad, who is the chief minister of the state since March 6, has to be elected as member of the Assembly within six months to continue as chief minister.
The NPP is leading the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government supported by five other parties including Independents.
Agatha expressed confidence that her brother will retain the South Tura seat in the upcoming bye-election.
“The people of South Tura are feeling extremely excited as Conrad, being the chief minister and capable leader is going to be their MLA,†she added.
Asked if she would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections next year, Agatha said that party will decide on what is going to happen in the elections.
The former South Tura MLA however said that she would continue to be the chairperson of the Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development as she intent to work in this area.
“I look forward to making it more effective. This is a body that existed in the past but it was not a very functional body earlier. I really hoped that I will be able to make it a more functional and a more effective body,†Agatha said.