National People’s Party (NPP) leader and former Cabinet Minister James Sangma was officially declared elected to the Rajya Sabha from Meghalaya on Thursday. James is brother of chief minister Conrad Sangma.
In Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh both BJP-ruled states, the party’s nominees were the sole candidates in the fray for the lone Rajya Sabha seats. In Manipur, State BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi was formally declared elected unopposed by the Returning Officer-cum-Secretary of the Manipur Assembly.
In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the BJP has 36 MLAs, followed by the National People’s Party (NPP) with six members. The Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Congress have five legislators each, while the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) has two members and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has one.
There are also three Independent MLAs in the Manipur Assembly. The tenure of sitting BJP Rajya Sabha member Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba is scheduled to end on June 21.
In Arunachal Pradesh, former State BJP President Tai Tagak was also declared elected unopposed on Thursday by Returning Officer-cum-Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretary Tadar Meena.
Tagak was the lone candidate in the contest for the Rajya Sabha seat. Tenure of incumbent MP Nabam Rebia on June 23.Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated Tai Tagak on his election to the Upper House.
In a Facebook post, Chief Minister Khandu described the development as “a proud moment for Arunachal Pradesh” and said that Tagak would now represent the hopes, concerns and aspirations of the people of the state at the national level.
“Having served the state with dedication over the years, he now carries the responsibility of representing the hopes, concerns, and aspirations of our people at the national level. His vast experience in public life will undoubtedly strengthen Arunachal Pradesh’s voice in Parliament,” the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister said.
“My warm congratulations to him on this well-deserved achievement. May his tenure be marked by meaningful contributions towards the progress of our state and the nation,” CM Khandu added.
The BJP currently has 46 legislators in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, while the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has six members. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has three MLAs, while the Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) have one legislator each. Three members of the Assembly are Independents.
