It’s going to be a straight contest between Congress nominee and former chief minister S C Marak and NCP candidate Thomas A Sangma for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya. Election to the seat will be held on March 26.The NCP has formed the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance along with United Democratic Party, Hills State People’s Democratic Party, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and two Independent legislators. The alliance has a majority with 31 legislators in a House with an effective strength of 59 legislators. Needless to say, the NCP is confident that its candidate will sail through.Marak, too, is hopeful of clinching the Rajya Sabha seat. The Congress, which has 25 legislators, hopes to increase its tally by winning the Baghmara seat which had to be countermanded because of the death of its candidate. Election to Baghmara seat will be held on March 22. With three Independent legislators supporting the Congress, it will be a very close contest between the two if the Congress manages to retain the Baghmara seat. Marak, who lost the Resubelpara seat to NCP candidate Timothy Shira by 292 votes, said he hoped to win the Rajya Sabha Seat even if the Congress-led MUA Government lost the trial of strength on March 19. “I have served the state long enough to have well wishers across parties who will vote for me,” he claimed.
