Shillong, Oct 08: AICC has approved the candidature of Mettrinson G Momin for the Rongjeng Assembly bypoll in Meghalaya.
Party sources said here today that Momin was picked up out of three shortlisted candidates recommended by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee. The other two were former minister Sujit Sangma and Ashutosh Marak.
The Rongjeng Assembly seat in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district fell vacant following the death of incumbent independent MLA Predickson G Momin on July 6.
The Election Commission was yet to announce the date of bypoll for the Rongjeng seat.
M G Momin was a former government employee and considered a green horn in state politics. He was chosen ahead of Sujit Sangma, a veteran and former MLA from the same seat.
The result of the bypoll would be some sort of a litmus test for the faction-ridden Congress government in Meghalaya and Moreso for the J D Rymbai administration which took over power from D D Lapang on June 15 last.
Even as the bickering over power-sharing between the two camps in Congress was continuing in Meghalaya, Congress president Sonia Gandhi instructed both the factions to work unitedly to bag the seat.
NCP, strong in Garo Hills region because of Purno A Sangma's presence, already fielded Desang Sangma for the seat and started campaigning for the bypoll.
Bureau Report
