Cong fields 3 ex-CMs in Northeast LS polls

The Congress has named three former chief ministers as its candidates for Lok Sabha elections in the Northeast, where BJP and its allies are eyeing 21 of the 25 seats.

Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki has been named against Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju in the Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency.

Two-time Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma is set to take on Agatha Sangma, former Union minister under the UPA and leader of National People’s Party (NPP) in Tura constituency. Agatha, the daughter of former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purna A Sangma had won the by-election held for Tura seat last year after his brother Conrad K Sangma became the chief minister and resigned as MP.

K L Chisi, who had briefly served as Nagaland chief minister in 1990 has been announced for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state.

Tuki, a veteran Congressman in Arunachal Pradesh is simultaneously contesting for 15 Sagalee Assembly constituency.

Tuki had served as chief minister twice briefly—in 2011 and in 2016.

Congress sources said the former chief ministers were chosen as the party was struggling for strong candidates to contest BJP or its allies.

Recently, the BJP renewed its alliances to contest the Lok Sabha polls together with regional parties, which were angry over the Citizenship (Amendment) bill 2019.