Wansuk Syiem

Shillong, April 4: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has endorsed veteran Congress leader Wansuk Syiem’s candidacy for the April 18 Rajya Sabha byelection.

Syiem, 55, who was all along a member of the National Commission for Women, has been associated with the Congress since 1977. She held various positions in the Meghalaya PCC and was also an AICC member.

If elected, Syiem will be the first woman from the state to represent Meghalaya in the Rajya Sabha.

Speaking over phone from New Delhi, an elated Syiem confirmed that Sonia had endorsed her name late last night.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul M. Sangma flew to New Delhi yesterday apparently to finalise the candidate for the byelection with senior AICC members, including AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Prior to Sonia’s approval, the other names which were doing the rounds as probable candidates include that of former Meghalaya director-general of police Bijon Kumar Dey Sawian, leader of the conglomeration of the traditional chiefs of Meghalaya John Filmore Kharshiing and former Speaker Charles D. Pyngrope.

The byelection has been necessitated because of the resignation of sitting member Thomas A. Sangma.

The NCP leader resigned on February 4 to contest the 2013 Assembly polls from North Tura on a National People’s Party (NPP) ticket. He, however, did not succeed and finished third.

Sangma’s term was to end on April 12, 2014. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 26, 2008 during the rule of Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government.

As the last date of filing nominations is Monday, Syiem is expected to return from New Delhi within the next few days.

The scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on April 9. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 11. Polling will be held on April 18 from 9am to 4pm while counting of votes will be held the same day at 5pm.

While April 18 will be the last date of the budget session of the Assembly, which is currently under recess, the entire election process should be completed by April 22.

Only elected members of the state Legislative Assembly are eligible to vote in the election.

Syiem said she had resigned as a member of the National Commission for Women today.

The Congress, with 29 legislators, including Speaker Abu Taher Mondal, commands majority support in the Assembly.

The Congress also has the support of 11 Independent legislators, two NCP legislators and one member from the North East Socialist Democratic Party (NESDP).

The Opposition has eight UDP members, two NPP legislators, four HSPDP legislators, one member of the Garo National Council and two Independent legislators.

The UDP and NPP are likely to set up a candidate for the bypoll. As statistics show, Syiem is likely to have a smooth sail to the house of elders. But Syiem, if eventually elected, will have to serve only the remainder of Sangma’s term which is till April 12, 2014. Before the expiry of the term a fresh election will have to be conducted.