The Congress high command has cleared the name of Meghalaya Public Works Minister Mukul Sangma as its candidate against heavy-weight Purno A Sangma for the Tura Lok Sabha constituency.
A medical practitioner, Mukul Sangma represents Ampatigiri assembly seat and holds the dual charge of PWD and information technology in the D D Lapang-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
Though drafted for the parliamentary polls probably for the first time against a heavyweight candidate, Mukul Sangma is not a 'greenhorn' in politics as he had held several briefs earlier in different regimes.
A 'young, dynamic and outspoken' leader, he is expected to give a tough fight to the National Trinamool Congress leader, who carries the name of a new party and a new symbol.
Purno Sangma, who has been returned from Tura since the 1970s except for a brief period, is facing a different situation this time following the Election Commission order of taking away the NCP symbol from him and his subsequent merger with Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.