MLA quits to pave way for Meghalaya CM's election to Assembly

Shillong: National People's Party MLA Agatha K Sangma, who represented South Tura constituency, resigned on Monday from the Assembly to pave way for her brother and chief minister Conrad K Sangma to contest from the seat.

Conrad Sangma, who was elected MP from Tura Lok Sabha seat in 2016 by-election, was sworn in as the chief minister in March after the NPP-led coalition came to power in the state in March.

As he did not contest the polls in February, his election to the Meghalaya Assembly is mandatory before September 6.

Assembly Commissioner and Secretary Andrew Simons told PTI that Agatha Sangma handed over the papers to Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira at his office this afternoon.

Speaker Donkupar Roy has accepted her resignation, and a notification was issued in this regard, he said.

A source close to the family said Agatha Sangma was likely to replace her brother in Parliament.

Agatha Sangma, on her part, said her family and the NPP have collectively made the decision for the greater interest of Meghalaya.

"You know our CM Conrad K Sangma has to be elected into the Assembly by September so a seat had to be vacated for him. Tura happens to be one of the most convenient seats because of various reasons," she said.

Agatha Sangma, who replaced her father P A Sangma for a brief period in the Parliament, was the youngest minister of state to be inducted in the UPA-II cabinet in 2009.

As of now, she will continue as the chair of Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

The former Union minister said she would look for ways to run the council effectively.