The five-day Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday with the entry of Dr. Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, the newly elected NPP legislator from Gambegre, marking a rise in women’s representation in the 60-member House to four. All four women legislators were present during the session.
Dr. Mehtab, wife of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, formally took her seat in the House and described the moment as a milestone. “It is a privilege and an honour to be representing my constituency,” she said after the session.
As a first-time legislator, she acknowledged the learning curve ahead. “Well, this time I have a lot to learn. (I will) still see the proceeding and how the house runs so I think I will be observing may be next time for sure,” she remarked.
Reflecting on women’s participation in politics, Dr. Mehtab added, “Well we have seen that women representation in politics has always been very less and I feel very honoured here today being a woman and being in this august house and I hope that with my present here more and more women will be encouraged to join politics.”
Her entry follows a decisive by-election victory in November, where she secured 12,678 votes, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Sadhiarani Sangma by a margin of 4,594 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after Saleng A. Sangma resigned as a legislator upon being elected to Parliament from Tura.
With her win, the NPP has strengthened its tally in the Assembly.
