Guwahati: Mohendro Rapsang, a candidate for the West Shillong Constituency of the ruling NPP party in Meghalaya submitted his paperwork on February 3.
Rapsang, a member of Congress who won the 2018 Assembly Election left the party when it suspended him last year.
He will compete against UDP MDC Paul Lyngdoh, BJP state president Ernest Mawrie and Beethleen Dkhar of the Congress.
The National People’s Party (NPP) on January 22 published the criminal records of three of its candidates, including Ampareen Lyngdoh of East Shillong, Teiborlang Pathaw of Mawlai and Thomas Sangma of North Tura.
According to the law, the party will now need to do extensive voter outreach and provide justifications for why a candidate with a criminal history should be placed on the party ticket.
According to the NPP declaration, former education minister Ampareen Lyngdoh is accused of violating Sections 120-B, 420,467,468, and 471,201 of the IPC.
However, the declaration stated that no charges have been brought against her.
According to the party, the choice of this candidate was made because she has committed a significant amount of time and effort to social service and is well-liked by the general public. As a result, the candidate is deemed suitable for election to further the public’s cause by the party.
The party responded that it is essential to state that the offences alleged to have been committed by the candidate have not yet been established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law when questioned why other people without a criminal history could not be chosen as candidates.