Meghalaya Youth Congress president seeks to contest Tura LS seat

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TURA | Jan 22, 2019:

As different political parties prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, ticket aspirants queue up seeking a chance to represent their respective Parliamentary seats.

In Meghalaya, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) and the Opposition Congress party are contesting the upcoming polls from both Shillong and Tura Parliamentary seats.

Sources informed that even the BJP — a partner of the ruling MDA coalition government, will join the fray and put up a candidates in both the seats.

In a major development, the current Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) president, Richard Marak on Monday submitted a letter to show his intent in fighting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The MPYC president formally applied for a Congress party ticket to fight for the 2-Tura LS seat under the party's banner, on Monday.

The development comes in the wake of numerous names being thrown from the Congress cauldron, including the former CM, Dr Mukul Sangma, his brother Zenith Sangma as well as former minister, Deborah Marak.

In a letter to the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Jan 19, Marak showed his interest in contesting the elections on an INC ticket.

"I have been encouraged by my party colleagues and friends to contest. I have also mentioned my interest to the party leadership. Whatever the leadership decides, I will respect," said Richard, when contacted on the matter of seeking a party ticket.

The MPYC president further felt that there was a need for a new model of development as the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer.

Furthermore, he felt that creative arts, tourism and sports are areas that the government needed to invest in.

"Imagine a vibrant sports industry in any part of Garo Hills. Our youths have the potential in every field. We should channelize that into nation building," felt Richard.

Richard further added that achieving decent work for all and combating climate change were dependent on the empowerment of rural women.

"I believe in women empowerment," he added.

The MPYC president has had a long standing relationship with the Congress since 2010. He was earlier the general secretary of the MPYC before taking over as its president.  He was also the founding member of All Guwahati Achik Student's Union (AGASA) in 2004 and a very active member of the Achik Theatre Society, of which he has remained a part. He is its founder member.