Two candidates file papers for South Tura by-polls

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: On the final day of filing of nominations for the South Tura by-poll two nominations were filed.

The candidates, both independents, were former MLA John Leslee K Sangma and Kris Kabul A Sangma. The nominations were filed before the Returning Officer, Sabrella Marak at the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner’s office at Tura.

John Leslee had fought the last Assembly polls held on February 27 on a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket but lost the poll by coming fourth. He recently resigned from the NCP to contest the by-poll as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, Kabul resigned from the United Democratic Party after the party decided to support Chief Minister and National People’s Party candidate Conrad Kongkal Sangma. The South Tura seat fell vacant after Agatha K Sangma resigned to pave way for her brother, Conrad to contest from the seat. Conrad, who is still a Member of Parliament from the Tura Lok Sabha seat, has to get elected to the Meghalaya Assembly by September 6.

The scrutiny of nomination of papers will be undertaken tomorrow with the last date of withdrawal of nomination being August 9. South Tura goes to polls on August 23 with the results to be declared on August 27 along with the Ranikor seat in South West Khasi Hills.