Two ministers, six others file nominations

SHILLONG, JAN 30:  Embattled minister and Shillong East Congress candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh was the first one to file her nomination in the office of the East Khasi hills Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer (DEC) on Wednesday even as her party counterpart Sayedullah Nongrum who is contesting from the Rajabala constituency in West Garo hills filed his nomination ahead of others in the West Garo hills district election officer in Tura.

Lyngdoh was accompanied by her supporters all the way to the DEC election office and she was spotted in the office premises at 10 am when the official timing for filing of nomination was from 11 am Wednesday. In West Garo hills, Sayedullah Nongrum filed his nomination at around 1 pm. He, too, was also accompanied by his supporters.

Till around 2 pm around seven candidates had already filed their nomination in the office of the District Election Officer located in Kachari road in Shillong, However with the exception of Sayedullah Nongrum, no other candidates from any other political parties had file their nomination till 2 pm in the DEC of West Garo hills.

The scenario in East Garo hills and West Jaintia hills were similar as till early afternoon none of the candidates had come to file their nomination papers. East Garo hills deputy commissioner cum DEC Vijay Kumar Mantri said he was still waiting for candidates to come and file their nomination papers.

It is learnt that the National People’s Party (NPP) candidates from all the four constituencies of East Garo hills district will be filing their nomination on February 4.

The seven candidates, besides Ampareen Lyngdoh, who had filed their nomination papers in the office of the East Khasi hills DEC were UDP candidate and minister JA Lyngdoh from Mawphlang, Independent candidate Telina Thangkhiew from Mylliem, her father who is also contesting as Independent candidate Pynshai Manik Syiem from Mawphlang, UDP candidate Bristol Kharbuli from Sohiong, Mawrynkneng Congress candidate Pynehborlang Mukhim and Hilarius Pochen from Nongkrem constituency as Independent candidate.

However additional Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) B Dhar told this website by 5 pm the Election department should be getting details of how many candidates had file their nomination papers from all the districts in the state on the first day for filing of nominations to the February 23 Meghalaya assembly elections. – By Our Reporter