Our Special Correspondent
TURA:
After delaying the selection of the party candidate for South Tura constituency in view of three aspirants, the grand old party – Indian National Congress has selected former cop and former Meghalaya civil service officer Laben Ch Marak.
The 44-year-old former MPS and MCS officer, who was also once a Taekwondo martial arts chief instructor, will be taking on Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in a multi-cornered contest that includes the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) John Leslee K Sangma, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Bernard N Marak and Trinamool Congress’ Richard Marak.
“We have selected Laben Ch Marak to be our Congress candidate for South Tura,” confirmed state Congress working president Deborah Marak to The Meghalayan.
A masters degree holder in English from New Delhi, the Congress candidate cleared the state civil services and became a deputy superintendent of police under the Meghalaya Police Service (MPS) before opting for the Meghalaya Civil Services, a year later, where he joined as an Extra Assistant Commissioner and BDO of Rongram block.
Four years later, he left the service to unsuccessfully contest the 2018 elections against current minister and the chief minister’s brother James Pangsang K Sangma from Dadenggre constituency.
His foray into politics was much earlier, when he made an unsuccessful bid from Rangsakona constituency in the 2003 Assembly polls.
“Among the trio (aspirants) he came out with the most potential given his criteria that also included stints within the Congress party. He was the youngest District Congress Committee joint secretary and also held the finance position of DCCI,” mentioned a party worker from Tura.
A student activist who was also president of the student union of B.Ed college in Tura Rongkhon and former president of the pressure group Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) for the entire Garo Hills, his organizational and mobilization skills will be put to the test in the coming elections.