Raphael Warjri

Senior National People's Party (NPP) leader James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma on Monday took oath as the new Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Meghalaya, marking his entry into the Upper House.

Sangma was elected unopposed after no other candidate entered the fray for the Rajya Sabha seat. He was formally handed the certificate of election by the Returning Officer at the Assembly Secretariat on June 11. In the event of a contest, polling by members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had been scheduled for June 18.

With his induction, James Sangma becomes Meghalaya's 10th representative in the Rajya Sabha, succeeding Dr. W.R. Kharlukhi, whose term concluded on June 21, 2026.

A seasoned politician, Sangma served as the MLA from Dadenggre Assembly constituency for three consecutive terms in 2008, 2013 and 2018. He narrowly lost the 2023 Assembly election to Trinamool Congress candidate Rupa M. Marak by just 18 votes.

He also held the Cabinet portfolio in the first Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-I) government from 2018 to 2023.

Chief Minister and NPP National President Conrad K. Sangma, who is also his brother, accompanied him during the swearing-in ceremony.