Conrad Sangma

{{Short description|12th and current Chief Minister of Meghalaya}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Conrad K. Sangma

| image = File:The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad Sangma.JPG

| caption = Official Portrait

| birth_name = Conrad Kongkal Sangma

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|01|27}}{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

| birth_place = Tura, Meghalaya, India

| office = 12th Chief Minister of Meghalaya

| term_start = 6 March 2018

| term_end =

| governor = Ganga Prasad
Tathagata Roy
R. N. Ravi
Satya Pal Malik
B. D. Mishra
Phagu Chauhan
C. H. Vijayashankar

| 1blankname = Deputy Chief Minister

| 1namedata = Prestone Tynsong (since 6 March 2018)
Sniawbhalang Dhar (since 7 March 2023)

| predecessor = Mukul Sangma

| successor =

| office2 = Member of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly

| term_start2 = 27 August 2018

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Agatha Sangma

| successor2 =

| constituency2 = South Tura

| term_start3 = 2008

| term_end3 = 2013

| predecessor3 = Clement Marak

| successor3 = Clement Marak

| constituency3 = Selsella

| office4 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| term_start4 = 19 May 2016

| term_end4 = 27 August 2018

| predecessor4 = P. A. Sangma

| successor4 = Agatha Sangma

| constituency4 = Tura

| office5 = Minister of Finance, Power and Tourism
(Government of Meghalaya)

| 1blankname5 = Chief Minister

| 1namedata5 = Donkupar Roy

| term_start5 = 2008

| term_end5 = 2009

| party = National People's Party

| otherparty = National Democratic Alliance
Nationalist Congress Party (formerly)

| spouse = {{marriage|Mehtab Sangma|29 May 2009}}

| children = 2

| father = Purno Sangma

| relatives = James Sangma (brother)
Agatha Sangma (sister)
Christi Sangma (sister)

| occupation = Politician

| alma_mater = {{ubl|Imperial College London (MBA)|Wharton School of Business (BBA)}}

}}

Conrad Kongkal Sangma (born 27 January 1978) is an Indian politician who is the 12th and current{{efn|He is the 18th person to serve as CM, while serving the 27th ,28th CM|name=CM}} Chief Minister of Meghalaya since 2018.{{cite news|title=Congress outsmarted in Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma to be sworn in March 6|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/npps-conrad-sangma-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-in-meghalaya/article22925085.ece|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Hindu|date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304184505/http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/npps-conrad-sangma-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-in-meghalaya/article22925085.ece|archive-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live}} He is the national president of the National People's Party. His father, P. A. Sangma, was former Chief Minister and former Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Conrad Sangma was also a Member of Parliament from Tura (2016–2018).{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080328/jsp/guwahati/story_9066936.jsp|title=Conrad delivers quickie budget|date=28 March 2008|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2010-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612123149/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080328/jsp/guwahati/story_9066936.jsp|archive-date=2012-06-12|url-status=dead}} He has been representing the South Tura constituency since 2018 and had represented Selsella constituency from 2008 to 2013. Sangma was also Minister of Finance, Power and Tourism, Government of Meghalaya from 2008 to 2009. He has served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.{{cite web|url=http://megassembly.gov.in/List%20of%20Candidate.htm|title=List Of Members Of The Eight Meghalaya Legislative Assembly|publisher=Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511120731/http://megassembly.gov.in/List%20of%20Candidate.htm|archive-date=2011-05-11}} He has also served as the National President of the Nationalist Youth Congress.

Career

Upon completing his studies, Sangma started his political career in the late 1990s, as the campaign manager for his father, P. A. Sangma for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/Storyold/123501/|title='In Garo Hills, I'm the moon that won't be eclipsed'|date=25 September 1999|work= The Indian Express}} He contested his first election in 2004, where he campaigned for a seat in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and lost by 182 votes.{{cite web|last1=Masih|first1=Archana|title=How a Wharton graduate fits into North-East politics|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-how-a-wharton-graduate-fits-into-northeast-politis/20130218.htm|website=Rediff.com|access-date=5 March 2018|date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306022732/http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-how-a-wharton-graduate-fits-into-northeast-politis/20130218.htm|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=live}} He was first elected to the State Assembly along with his brother James, both as NCP members in the 2008 state elections and later held several important portfolios in the state cabinet,{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/23sangma.htm|title=Sangma dynasty gains momentum in Meghalaya|date=23 April 2008|publisher=Rediff.com News|access-date=2010-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508144721/http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/23sangma.htm|archive-date=2009-05-08|url-status=live}} including those of Finance, Power, Tourism, GAD and IT, and presented his first annual budget for Meghalaya within 10 days of debuting as a minister. From 2009 to 2013 Sangma held the post of Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Sangma lost his seat in the 2013 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election.{{cite book |title=Detailed Results State Election, 2013 to the Legislative Assembly Of Meghalaya |publisher=Election Commission of India |page=11 |url=https://ceomeghalaya.nic.in/electionconducted/mla2013/10-Reports/10-detailed-results.pdf}}

In March 2016 he was elected National President of the National People's Party (NPP) following his father's death earlier that year.{{cite news|title=Conrad K Sangma Elected NPP President|url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/conrad-k-sangma-elected-npp-president/|access-date=6 March 2018|work=The Northeast Today|date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321010433/http://www.northeasttoday.in/conrad-k-sangma-elected-npp-president/|archive-date=21 March 2016}} In May that year, contesting from Tura in the by-election to the Lok Sabha, he won by a record margin of 1.92 lakh votes.{{cite news|title=Tura gifts Conrad huge-win mantle|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160520/jsp/northeast/story_86547.jsp|access-date=6 March 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306203931/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160520/jsp/northeast/story_86547.jsp|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=dead}}

=Chief Minister of Meghalaya=

Sangma's party, the NPP, came second behind the Indian National Congress winning 19 seats at the 2018 Meghalaya legislative assembly election.{{cite news|title=Hung Assembly in Meghalaya, Congress single largest party|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/hung-assembly-in-meghalaya-congress-single-largest-party/article22919518.ece|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Hindu|date=3 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305142022/http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/hung-assembly-in-meghalaya-congress-single-largest-party/article22919518.ece|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=live}} Requiring 30 seats to form a government in the State, the NPP allied with other regional parties taking the number to 34. Subsequently, Sangma staked claim to form government upon meeting the Governor of Meghalaya Ganga Prasad with a letter of support from the 34 members of the legislative assembly, that included 19 from NPP, six from the United Democratic Party, four from the People's Democratic Front, two each from the Hill State People's Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and an independent,{{cite news|title=Meghalaya assembly elections 2018: NPP-led alliance all set to form govt|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/HENVCUo4AYfgfwqu27XNhJ/Meghalaya-assembly-elections-2018-NPPled-alliance-all-set.html|access-date=5 March 2018|work=Mint|date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305073912/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/HENVCUo4AYfgfwqu27XNhJ/Meghalaya-assembly-elections-2018-NPPled-alliance-all-set.html|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=live}} and was declared the Chief Minister-elect.{{cite news|title=Congress outsmarted in Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma to be sworn in March 6|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/npps-conrad-sangma-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-in-meghalaya/article22925085.ece|access-date=5 March 2018|agency=Press Trust of India|work=The Hindu|date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304184505/http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/npps-conrad-sangma-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-in-meghalaya/article22925085.ece|archive-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live}} He was sworn in on 6 March, replacing Mukul Sangma who is not related to him. In August 2018, he contested the by-election for the South Tura seat and polled 13,656 votes. Sangma defeated his nearest Congress rival Charlotte W Momin by a margin of over 8,400 votes.{{cite news|title=Conrad Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya CM|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/conrad-sangma-sworn-in-as-meghalaya-cm/article22940327.ece|access-date=6 March 2018|work=The Hindu|date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306062000/http://www.thehindu.com/elections/meghalaya-2018/conrad-sangma-sworn-in-as-meghalaya-cm/article22940327.ece|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=live}} He was elected as Meghalaya Chief Minister for the second term on 7 March 2023.{{Cite web |title= Conrad Sangma Takes Oath as Meghalaya Chief Minister Again, PM Present|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/conrad-sangma-takes-oath-as-meghalaya-chief-minister-pm-modi-present-3840739}}

Personal life

Conrad Sangma was born on 27 January 1978 in Tura, a town in the West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya.{{cite web|title=Conrad Sangma is the new Chief Minister of Meghalaya|url=https://thenortheasttoday.com/conrad-sangma-is-the-new-chief-minister-of-meghalaya/|publisher=The Northeast Today|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305090710/https://thenortheasttoday.com/conrad-sangma-is-the-new-chief-minister-of-meghalaya/|archive-date=5 March 2018|date=4 March 2018}} His father Purno Sangma was a former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and mother Soradini, a homemaker.{{cite web|title=Conrad Sangma|url=https://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~conrad27/ME.html|website=University of Pennsylvania|publisher=stwing.upenn.edu|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990117075024/http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~conrad27/ME.html|archive-date=1999-01-17|url-status=live}} His siblings, older brother James and younger sister Agatha, are politicians with the NPP. Another sister Christy,{{cite news|title=Agatha, Pala to be sworn in today|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090528/jsp/frontpage/story_11030542.jsp|access-date=5 March 2018|work=Shillong Times|date=28 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162638/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090528/jsp/frontpage/story_11030542.jsp|archive-date=2018-08-02|url-status=dead}} however, has remained non-political.{{cite news|title=My daughters named after Agatha Christie: Sangma|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/my-daughters-named-after-agatha-christie-sangma/20120715.htm|access-date=5 March 2018|work=Rediff.com|date=15 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202553/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/my-daughters-named-after-agatha-christie-sangma/20120715.htm|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=live}} Conrad was brought up in Delhi and was educated at the St. Columba's School there. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration in entrepreneurial management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, before completing his MBA in finance from Imperial College London.{{cite news|title=Meghalaya polls: No BJP or Cong, NPP aims for sole sway|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/meghalaya-polls-no-bjp-or-cong-npp-aims-for-sole-sway/articleshow/63055097.cms|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Times of India|date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731065805/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/meghalaya-polls-no-bjp-or-cong-npp-aims-for-sole-sway/articleshow/63055097.cms|archive-date=2018-07-31|url-status=live}}

Sangma married Mehtab Chandee, a doctor by profession, on 29 May 2009,{{cite news|last1=Dholabhai|first1=Nishit|title=Children set stage for thaw|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090603/jsp/frontpage/story_11056376.jsp|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=3 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306084205/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090603/jsp/frontpage/story_11056376.jsp|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=dead}} and they have two daughters: Amara (born {{circa|2011}}) and Katelyn (born 2017).{{cite news|last=Khan|first=Saidul|title=Battle of Sangmas sealed in ballot box|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/battle-of-sangmas-sealed-in-ballot-box-211836|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305211241/https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/battle-of-sangmas-sealed-in-ballot-box-211836|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Conrad's Mantra: People, Principles And Participation To Be Guiding Force|url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2016/05/21/conrads-mantra-people-principles-and-participation-to-be-guiding-force/|access-date=5 March 2018|work=Shillong Times|date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305092224/http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2016/05/21/conrads-mantra-people-principles-and-participation-to-be-guiding-force/|archive-date=5 March 2018}} Apart from politics, Sangma has been associated with social work as President of the PA Sangma Foundation, which functions for the betterment of sectors of education and environment, and also runs four colleges in rural Meghalaya. He also currently serves as President of the Meghalaya Cricket Association and Sports Academy.{{cite news|title=Meet Conrad Sangma: PA Sangma's son and next CM of Meghalaya|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/meet-conrad-sangma-man-of-the-moment-in-meghalaya-pa-sangmas-son-and-likely-new-cm/1087038/|access-date=5 March 2018|work=The Financial Express|date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304143612/http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/meet-conrad-sangma-man-of-the-moment-in-meghalaya-pa-sangmas-son-and-likely-new-cm/1087038/|archive-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live}}

Conrad Sangma plays the electric guitar and is a fan of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. In May 2020, he received significant notice for posting a video of himself on Instagram playing the Iron Maiden song "Wasted Years".{{Cite web|date=2020-05-23|title=Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's cover of an Iron Maiden song is a social media hit|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/meghalaya-cm-conrad-sangma-wasted-years-iron-maiden-electric-guitar-6423694/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=24 May 2020|title=Watch: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma plays Iron Maiden's 'Wasted Years' on his guitar|url=https://scroll.in/video/962801/watch-meghalaya-chief-minister-conrad-sangma-plays-iron-maidens-wasted-years-on-his-guitar|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}