Marking a significant moment for women’s representation in Meghalaya politics, Dr. Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma was sworn in as the MLA for Gambegre on Wednesday. Her victory in the by-election not only secures her place in the 60-member Assembly but also increases the number of women legislators to four—a symbolic step toward greater gender inclusivity in the state’s governance.
The oath-taking ceremony, administered by Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, senior National People’s Party (NPP) leaders, legislators from NPP and other political parties. However, no one from the opposition TMC and VPP attended the oath taking ceremony.
Dr. Chandee, the wife of the Chief Minister and a member of the ruling NPP, joins Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh (Shillong East) and Santa Mary Shylla (Sutnga Saipung) as the party’s women legislators, with Miani D. Shira (Ampati) representing the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma lauded the increased representation of women in the Assembly, calling it “a proud moment” for the state. “It is a great joy to administer the oath to our newly elected woman legislator. Having four women in the Assembly is a milestone for Meghalaya,” he said.
Dr. Chandee expressed hope that her election would inspire more women to participate in politics, highlighting the challenges they face. “On general I have always been saying this that women in politics is very less. I think that’s the nature of how politics has been because it is a very difficult job and it is very demanding and I think we as women and as equal participant in the society should come out more and participate more. I just hope that me being one I hope so many women get the encouragement that they need to come out and be a part of politics,” she remarked.
She also pledged to focus on developmental issues in Gambegre, particularly infrastructure, healthcare, and basic amenities like electricity. “Well in this past few months that I have been around in this constituency, I have seen that the area is slightly more backward compared to the other parts of Garo Hills and there may be so many reasons for that but I feel there are still the basic infrastructures that still needs to be addressed like health care, roads and electricity because there are still many villages without electricity, so many schools, which are in dilapidated conditions and there are still so many villages, which are not connected by roads – I think those are the things, which will matter most and I think I will take these issues first,” she said, emphasizing that her constituents had voted for development and change.
Dr. Chandee’s election underscores the growing push for gender balance in Meghalaya’s governance, setting a benchmark for political participation and development-focused leadership in the state.
She credited her victory to the voters’ desire for development, adding, I think it was the main idea that people could realise and they have seen that in the past few years nothing has happened much so they wanted to be part of the government and I think that is what they have voted for.”
When asked about comparisons with her predecessor, Saleng Sangma, Dr. Chandee noted, “Well you cannot expect the same personality because I am very different person from what Saleng is. I think he has got a different personality and so am I. I would take up the issues but not in terms of what he has done. I think the issues of the area, the issues of the constituency of course and matters, which are related to the public.”
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, senior National People’s Party (NPP) leaders, and supporters.