The upcoming bye-election for the Gambegre Assembly Constituency in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills is poised to be a multi-cornered contest, with Congress becoming the third party to announce its candidate. The Congress party officially entered the race by nominating Jingjang M. Marak. The announcement, made by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, confirmed that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had approved Marak’s candidacy. “The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal to nominate Jingjang M. Marak as the party candidate for the bye-elections,” Venugopal said in a statement.
This by-election, scheduled for November 13, holds particular significance for Congress as it seeks to regain influence in the constituency, following the resignation of Saleng A. Sangma, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tura earlier this year. So far, three political parties—NPP, TMC, and Congress—have named their candidates, while the BJP is yet to announce its contender.
The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) has fielded Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s wife, Mehtab Chandee Sangma, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has chosen Sadhiarani M. Sangma, the only female member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). With prominent figures from these parties already in the fray, the stage is set for a high-profile battle in Gambegre. The results of the by-election will be declared on November 23.