Two Sangma dynasties vie to rule Meghalaya

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, February 20

As Meghalaya goes to the polls on February 27, the focus will be on two Sangma dynasties with one of them sure to assume power in the state once the Assembly results are out on March 3.

One of the dynasties is headed by incumbent Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma of the Congress while the other was set up by late PA Sangma (former Lok Sabha Speaker) and is now headed by his son Conrad K Sangma, MP from Tura and leader of the National People’s Party (NPP).

Dynastic politics is nothing new to the hill state, formed in 1972, as one after the other, political stalwarts have been making ground to establish their wards and kin in politics.

Four members from the family of Mukul Sangma are in the fray on the Congress ticket: The CM himself from Ampati and Songsak LACs; his wife Dikkanchi D Shira, a sitting MLA, from Mahendraganj LAC; his brother and state Sports Minister Zenith Sangma from Rangsakona and the latter’s wife Saddhiarani M Sangma, a political greenhorn, from Gambegre.

Conrad Sangma’s family has fielded three of its members on the NPP ticket: His younger sister and former MP Agatha K Sangma from South Tura; his brother James Sangma, a sitting MLA, from Dadenggre and his brother-in-law Sanjay A Sangma from Mahendraganj.

Former minister in Mukul Sangma’s cabinet Rowell Lyngdoh and his son-in-law Sounder Cajee are in the fray as NPP nominees from Mawkyrwat and South Shillong constituencies.

The affluent Dhar family, too, has four nominees in the fray on the NPP ticket: Ngaitlang Dhar, richest among the candidates, from Umroi; his son Dasakhiatbha Lamare, second-richest, from Mawhati; Ngaitlang’s brother Snaiwbhalang Dhar from Nartiang and their brother-in-law Wailadmiki Shylla from Jowai.

The regional Hill State People’s Democratic Party has fielded father-son duo Pynshai Manik Syiem and Teilinia Thangkhiew from Mawphlang and Mylliem.