Tura, March 14: Taking a leaf out of their two brothers in law- Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his brother and minister James Pangsang K Sangma, who took on the might of the Mukul Sangma government at the peak of Congress power, barely three years ago, a new breed of aspiring politicians have come of age.
The young brothers of Methab A Sangma, wife of Chief minister Conrad K Sangma, have plunged into the political scenario of the district council in the Garo Hills on Saturday.
Grahambell and Anseng A Sangma filed their nomination papers to contest from two constituencies touching the fringes of Tura, a bastion now held by chief minister Conrad Sangma.
Among the 33 nominations filed on Saturday before the returning officers in Garo Hills for the April 12th council elections, the limelight was clearly on the NPP siblings and a Congress candidate.
Grahambell A Sangma filed his nomination from Jengjal constituency while elder sibling Anseng A Sangma submitted his nomination papers from Asanang constituency, both NPP candidates.
This is an electoral debut for Anseng A Sangma, whereas, for Grahambell it is his second stint at power after he narrowly lost to Independent Levastone T Sangma in the last council polls.
Another heavyweight politician to join the GHADC electoral fray was former MLA and parliamentary Secretary in the then Mukul Sangma government represnting Rajabala constituency, Ashahel D Shira who is fighting on a Congress from Batabari MDC seat. he filed his nomination on Saturday to take on the NPP’s Roynath D Sangma, a former MDC, and a host of other candidates that also includes a young lady Independent candidate who is expected to submit her nomination on Monday, the last day.
The polls has also brought in other family and friends into the election equation as politicians set the ball rolling to groom their potential future candidates.
The Congress has put up late Congress minister Clement Marak’s son and a nephew for two constituencies of their erstwhile stronghold of Selsella in West Garo Hills region, in similar fashion to that of the NPP who is fielding two candidates from the family of the chief minister.
While Congress has fielded former minister Zenith Sangma’s wife Sadhiarani Sangma to try and retain Dengnakpara constituency, in the same breath, another candidate contesting as an Independent has been backed by his NPP father and Dalu MLA Brening A Sangma.
The young Balsrang Arengh, son of Dalu MLA Brening A Sangma has filed his nomination to fight from Amongpara seat, despite the NPP fielding their own candidate Panseng R Marak. It remains to be seen if such a move will cut into the votes of the ruling NPP or mobilize its supporters.
On the same day, the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC polls passed off peacefully, a day after police failed to anticipate the protests leading to groups of tribal organizations blocking the entry into Tura at Damalgre.
Backed by police escort, as many as three non-tribal candidates from the muslim dominatewd plain belt landed in Tura to submit their nominations for the contest.
In Balachanda, Independent candidates Islam Haque Choudhury and Abu Hasem filed their nominations before the returning officer in Tura DC office, whereas, in Zikzak constituency of South West Garo Hills it was Aktar Ali and Abdus Sattar, both Independent candidates.
Overall, the district wise break up on Saturday aw five nominations in North Garo Hills including woman candidate Lakitha D Shira (BJP) for Damas constituency.
In East Garo Hills three candidates filed their nomination including lone woman aspirant Serenni Marak (Independent) for Samandagre.
In South West Garo Hills district there were seven candidates who filed nominations, including sitting MDC and BJP candidate Bhupender Hajong from Zikzak.
The highest number of candidates filing nominations were in West Garo Hills district where 13 contestants submitted their papers. They included Independent candidate and martial arts trainer for Tura Mathew Ch Momin (Chichi).
South Garo Hills had a total of six candidates filing nominations in five MDC constituencies.
