SHILLONG, MAR 28: Nine candidates are all set to fight from the two parliamentary seats – Shillong and Tura in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 11, after two candidates withdrew their candidatures.
According to the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Frederick Roy Kharkongor, six candidates will be contesting from the Shillong seat while three candidates from the Tura seat.
The two candidates from Shillong constituency who withdrew their candidatures include Justice Kharbasanti of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem, who is the substitute candidate of the Congress party, he said.
The six other candidates who are in the fray include sitting MP Vincent H Pala (Congress), Jemino Mawthoh (UDP), Sanbor Shullai (BJP) and three Independents – THS Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani.
Meanwhile, the candidates for the Tura seat include former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma (Congress), former Tura MP Agatha K Sangma (NPP) and Rikman G Momin (BJP).
Earlier, the Returning Officer for the Shillong constituency Abhishek Bhagotia had withheld the nomination papers filed by Bonney and Kharbasanti following complaints received from the KHNAM and a bank respectively.
Bonney’s nomination papers as the candidate of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) was objected by the president of the party Pyndapborthiaw Saibon following a recent order passed by the Meghalaya High Court.
However after examining his submission in response to the notice served to him on the matter, the RO has decided to allow Bonney to contest as an independent candidate.
“Taking into consideration all objections raised by Saibon based on the court order, as well as materials and submissions made by Bonney, it was found that Bonney is eligible as an Independent candidate, but not as candidate of a political party,” Bhagotia said.
Therefore, Bonney was allowed to contest as Independent and he accordingly chosen ‘key’ as his symbol for contesting the upcoming elections, he added.
With regards to the complaint against Kharbasanti, the RO said that the candidate has admitted for not disclosing pending dues to be paid to bank. Based on this, Kharbasanti has accordingly withdrawn his candidature and the matter related to his case is over, he stated.
By Our Reporter
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