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Agatha Kongkal Sangma is an Indian politician who holds a position as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, representing the Tura constituency in Meghalaya. A remarkable aspect is that at the age of 29, she became the youngest individual in India’s history to be appointed as a Union Minister within the Government of India. Notably, she is the second woman from Northeast India to be appointed to this role, following Renuka Devi Barkataki from Assam. Agatha Kongkal Sangma is affiliated with the National People’s Party.
Wiki/Biography
Agatha Kongkal Sangma was born on Thursday, 24 July 1980 in New Delhi, India. Her upbringing took place in the West Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. After obtaining her LLB degree from Pune University, she became a member of the bar at Delhi High Court. She pursued her further education by completing a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Weight (approx.): 55 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Agatha Sangma is the daughter of Purno Agitok Sangma, who previously held the position of Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Soradini K. Sangma. Agatha has one sister named Christy and two older brothers. Her eldest brother is James Sangma, who serves as the Chairman of Meghalaya Industries Development Corporation since 2023 and her other brother is Conrad Sangma, who serves as the Chief Minister within the Meghalaya State Assembly.
Agatha Sangma with her mother Soradini Sangma and brother Conrad Sangma
Husband
Agatha Sangma and Dr Patrick Rongma Marak were united in marriage on 21 November 2019, in a ceremony held at the Sacred Heart Shrine in Tura, Meghalaya. The event was graced by the presence of several government officials, ministers, as well as renowned Indian football figure Baichung Bhutia. Patrick is a doctor at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences located in Shillong. Notably, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the couple through a tweet.
Congratulations to Agatha and Patrick. Best wishes to the newlyweds.
Congratulations also to your family on this happy and special occasion. My friend, the late PA Sangma would have been delighted! @SangmaConrad https://t.co/XJIR4WMhOk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2019
Address
Walbagkre, P. O. Araimile, New Tura, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
Signature/Autograph
Agatha Sangma’s Signature
Career
Politics
Sangma’s journey in politics began when she won a by-election for the 14th Lok Sabha in May 2008. This opportunity arose after her father, P.A. Sangma, stepped down from the position to venture into state politics. Subsequently, she secured re-election for the 15th Lok Sabha. Notably, at the young age of 29, Sangma achieved the distinction of being the youngest Member of Parliament to hold the position of Union Minister within the Government of India.
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil administered the oath as Minister of State to Agatha Sangma, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 28 May 2009
Initially, she served as the Minister of State for Rural Development. However, she relinquished this role following a cabinet reshuffle in October 2012. In November 2017, reports emerged that she intended to contest the 2018 Meghalaya legislative assembly election as a candidate of the National People’s Party (NPP). She contested from the South Tura constituency, garnering 6,499 votes and winning the seat. Later, she resigned as a member of the House, aiming to create an opportunity for her brother to participate in the by-poll from her constituency.
Controversies
“Protests Over Citizen’s Amendment Bill Target Tura MP Agatha Sangma’s Residence”
The controversial Citizen’s Amendment Bill (CAB) sparked protests that extended to the residence of Tura MP, Agatha Sangma, on Wednesday. Students led a protest that culminated at her house, where they raised concerns about her endorsement of the Bill. Protesters on motorcycles and in cars converged on Agatha Sangma’s residence, chanting slogans such as ‘BJP down and Agatha down’. The previous night, members of MPYC had set effigies of the Tura MP on fire in front of her house.
“Controversy between Sangma and Congress President Sonia Gandhi”
In 2009, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Purno A. Sangma and Agatha Sangma had to acknowledge and apologize for the statement passed on Congress President Sonia Gandhi on her foreign origin. During an interview, Agatha told the reporters,
This is an issue of the past. We are working together in the UPA government. One must move on.”
Awards & Honours
- Agatha received an Alumni Laureate Award for her master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom in 2009.
Assets and Properties
Movable Assets
- Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Banking Financial Companies – Rs 20,96,562.74
- Motor Vehicles – Rs 11,00,000
- Jewellery – Rs 5,70,000
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land – Rs 12,50,000
- Non-Agricultural Land – Rs 10,00,000
- Commercial Buildings – Rs 2,33,65,250
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2018.
Net Worth
Agatha’s Net Worth for the financial year 2017-2018 is estimated to be Rs 2 crores.
Facts/Trivia
- In 2022, during the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, Meghalaya MP Agatha Sangma reaffirmed the demand of Meghalaya and its residents for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
- Before entering the political arena, Agatha worked as an executive at the law firm FoxMandal Little when she was 27 years old.