Mukul Sangma resigns from traditional seat

Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who was elected from both the Ampati and Songsak assembly constituencies in last month's elections, on Friday resigned from the former.

Accompanied by his party legislators, the veteran Congress leader submitted his resignation paper to Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy.

"It is not an easy decision to take but it was a collective decision (to resigned as a member from Ampati)," said Sangma, who had won the Ampati seat for sixth consecutive time.

"Songsak is a constituency which requires lots of nurturing, lots of attention and I would love to do so," he said

Sangma had defeated Bakul C. Hajong of the BJP by 8,104 votes in Ampati, while winning Songsak by a margin of 1,830 votes against his nearest rival National People's Party candidate Nihim Dalbot Shira.

Sangma's eldest daughter Miani D. Shira is likely to be party candidate from Ampati when by-poll would be held there.

--IANS

rrk/vd