SANGMA VS SANGMA

MEGHALAYA POLLS

- Kaushik Deka

With the Meghalaya assembly elections slated for February 27, Congress battle lines are drawn between the ruling National People's Party (NPP) and the emerging force, Trinamool (TMC). On the face of it, it's a rehash of the 2018 election, when the two most prominent Sangmas of the state, Chief Minister Conrad and his predecessor Mukul, were locked in fierce political combat. This time too, the two Garo leaders are the prime adversaries, though Mukul Sangma, then a Congress leader, is contesting the poll under Mamata Banerjee-led TMC's banner.

In fact, it has taken the shape of an all-out turf war between the two Sangma families. Apart from Conrad, his brother James, a minister in his cabinet, is also contesting the polls. Sister Agatha remains the Lok Sabha MP from Tura. Conrad's uncle Thomas Sangma, his brother-in-law Sanjay Sangma, cousin lan Botham Sangma, and Agatha's brother-in-law Chireng Peter Marak, are also contesting as NPP candidates. From Mukul's family, his wife Dikkanchi Shira, daughter Miani Shira, brother Zenith Sangma and Zenith's wife Sadhiyarani Sangma are incumbent MLAs who are in the fray again.