Tura: Altogether eight candidates filed their nomination paper in Garo hills on Saturday, including Songsak legislator Nihim D. Shira (NPP), who will be fighting the polls against Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma.

Shira is contesting the polls for the third term and is confident that he would be able to retain the seat. "I am very positive and upbeat. I believe that Mukul will get carried away as the wind of change is very high in Meghalaya and the NPP wave can be felt across the state," he said.

NPP's Williamnagar candidate is Marcuish N. Marak while Jim M. Sangma is contesting from Rongjeng Assembly seat. Deputy chairman of GHADC Mettrinson G. Momin also filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Rongjeng constituency.

Momin had resigned from the NPP after the party endorsed the candidature of Jim M. Sangma. Jim happens to be the sibling of former NCP legislator Desang M. Sangma, who is also in the contest as a candidate of the NCP.

In Tura, four candidates filed nominations in four different constituencies of West Garo Hills. Former Congress minister Sayedullah Nongrum filed his papers as an Independent candidate from Tikrikilla constituency. Nongrum had lost the 2013 Assembly elections from Rajabala seat as a Congress candidate. This time he is seeking an entry from Tikrikilla where his son, Shamsher Nongrum, unsuccessfully contested the previous elections.

Another candidate to file his nomination papers is Mark Goera B. Marak from Phulbari seat as an Independent. Mark is currently an elected MDC in the GHADC. He lost to the Congress's Abu Taher Mondal from Phulbari by 499 votes in the 2013 elections.

The other two Independent candidates who filed nomination were Droming Ch Marak for Selsella and Niru D. Sangma for Gambegre. No candidates filed their nominations in North Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, East Garo Hills or South West Garo Hills.