Tura: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday filed nomination papers for his second constituency Songsak in Williamnagar, where he will be pitted against NPP strongman Nihim D. Shira.

On Tuesday, Mukul had filed nomination for Ampati constituency, his home turf, where he is in a straight fight with BJP candidate Bakul Hajong.

Some of the high-profile candidates, who filed their nominations on the last day are Speaker Abu Taheer Mondal of the Congress for Phulbari, Selsella Congress MLA Clement Marak, Independent MLA Ashahel D. Shira for Rajabala, sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma for Rangsakona and his wife, member of district council and chairman of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Sadhiarani M. Sangma, for Gambegre constituency.

Former minister and senior BJP leader K.C. Boro filed his nomination for Tikrikilla constituency, while another former minister and BJP leader Billykid A. Sangma filed his papers for South Tura constituency.

Majority of the candidates of the plains belt on Wednesday filed their nomination papers.

In the plains belt of Garo hills, roads have been a major poll plank with the Opposition cornering the Congress.

The Speaker said, "It is politically motivated. The road, which was with the North Eastern Council (NEC), has been converted to a national highway and a tender has been floated for its construction."

The 60km road from Selsella to Tikrikilla is in a deplorable condition and the Opposition is hammering the Congress over the issue.

Mondal said, "In Phulbari and other constituencies, several new roads have been constructed, connecting villages. This has been the biggest achievement of the Congress."

He said the people of Meghalaya would repose their faith in the Congress based on its development initiatives.

The party said the BJP and the NPP will not be able to make any significant impact for the Congress in this election.

Congress leader Zenith Sangma alleged that the BJP-NPP alliance is trying to hijack the implementation of central-government schemes by spreading false propaganda.