Agatha Sangma

Agatha K. Sangma
Sangma in 2009
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
17 June 2019 – 04 June 2024
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byConrad Sangma
Succeeded bySaleng A. Sangma
ConstituencyTura
In office
May 2009 – May 2014
Succeeded byP. A. Sangma
ConstituencyTura
In office
May 2008 – May 2009
Preceded byP. A. Sangma
ConstituencyTura
Minister of State for Rural Development
In office
May 2009 – October 2012
Succeeded bySuryakanta Patil
Personal details
Born
Agatha Kongkal Sangma

(1980-07-24) 24 July 1980 (age 44)
New Delhi, India[1]
Political partyNational People's Party
Other political
affiliations		Nationalist Congress Party
Spouse
Patrick Rongma Marak
​
​
(m. 2019)​
Parent
RelativesJames Sangma (brother)
Conrad Sangma (brother)
Alma materPune University
University of Nottingham
Profession

Agatha Kongkal Sangma (born 24 July 1980) is an Indian politician. A former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha representing the Tura constituency of Meghalaya.[2] At the age of 29, she is the youngest member of parliament ever in India to be appointed Union Minister in Government of India till date.[3] Sangma is the second woman from Northeast India to be appointed a union minister in the Government of India after Renuka Devi Barkataki from Assam.[4] She is a member of National People's Party.

Early and personal life

Agatha Sangma was born in New Delhi to P. A. Sangma, the former speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Soradini K. Sangma. She was brought up in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.[1][3] Her brother Conrad Sangma is the Chief Minister in the Meghalaya State Assembly.[5] Agatha married Patrick Rongma Marak, a physician, on 21 November 2019.[6][7]

Education

Sangma received her LLB degree from Pune University and later joined the bar in Delhi High Court. She earned her master's degree in environmental management at the University of Nottingham, UK.[8]

Career

Sangma was first elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in a by-election in May 2008, after her father P.A. Sangma resigned from the seat to enter state politics. Later she was re elected to 15th Lok Sabha.[9] At age 29, Sangma is the youngest Member of Parliament ever to be appointed Union Minister in Government of India till date.[10]

Sangma was Minister of State for Rural development. She resigned from this post during the cabinet reshuffle in October 2012.[11][12][13]

It was reported in November 2017 that she would contest the 2018 Meghalaya legislative assembly election on a National People's Party (NPP) ticket.[14] She contested from the South Tura constituency and polled 6,499 votes winning the seat.[15] But she submitted her resignation as member of the House in an attempt to pave way for her brother to contest the bypoll from her constituency.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Fifteenth Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile: Agatha Sangma Archived 28 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Lok Sabha website.
  2. ^ "Members: Lok Sabha". loksabhaph.nic.in. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "NCP retains Tura, Congress Shillong", The Hindu, Chennai, India, 16 May 2009, archived from the original on 4 November 2012, retrieved 25 May 2009, ... NCP candidate Agatha Sangma, daughter of former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, retained the Tura parliamentary seat in Meghalaya and Congress the Shillong seat. Ms. Agatha, who is the sitting MP, polled 1,54,476 votes compared to 1,36,531 votes by closest rival Deborah Marak of the Congress. ...
  4. ^ "Renuka Devi Borkataki, Northeast's first woman union minister dies at 85". 14 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Sangma meets Sonia, first time in a decade". The Times of India. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Congratulations to the newlyweds!". Twitter. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  7. ^ "PM Modi congratulates Agatha Sangma on her wedding". The Times of India. 21 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Sangma dynasty gains momentum in Meghalaya". Rediff.com News. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Agatha K. Sangma: India's Youngest MP profile & Bio", Samaw.com, archived from the original on 1 April 2009, retrieved 25 May 2009, ... Agatha K. Sangma, the youngest India's Parliamentarian from Meghalaya ... Date of Birth 24.07.1980 ...
  10. ^ "Agatha Sangma youngest minister in Manmohan ministry", The Times of India, 27 May 2009, archived from the original on 23 October 2012, retrieved 27 May 2009, ... P A Sangma, will be the youngest minister in the Manmohan Singh cabinet ...
  11. ^ "Agatha Sangma and Vincent Pala step down". India today. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Agatha Sangma too may quit NCP, ministry". The Times of India. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Agatha Sangma gets rural development, Ambika is I&B minister", in.news.yahoo.com, retrieved 28 May 2009, ... The youngest minister in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet, Agatha Sangma, 28, has been named minister of state for rural development... [dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Agatha Sangma to contest 2018 assembly elections". theweek.in. Indo-Asian News Service. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Agatha Sangma wins from South Tura". United News of India. 3 March 2018. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  16. ^ https://thenortheasttoday.com/meghalaya-mla-agatha-sangma-resigns-to-make-way-for-brother-conrad-sangma/amp/? [dead link‍]