Raphael Warjri

National People's Party (NPP) nominee James P.K. Sangma crossed a key procedural hurdle in the race for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya after his nomination papers were successfully cleared during scrutiny conducted at the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday.

Returning Officer and Assembly Secretary Malthus S. Sangma scrutinised the nomination documents and declared them valid, paving the way for Sangma's candidature to proceed unchallenged.

Backed by the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), Sangma had filed his nomination papers on June 8.

With no rival candidate entering the fray, the contest appears headed towards an uncontested outcome. The June 11 deadline for withdrawal of nominations is expected to formally seal Sangma's election to the Upper House of Parliament, barring any last-minute developments.