James Sangma | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 12 June 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Wanweiroy Kharlukhi |
| Constituency | Meghalaya |
| National Working President National People's Party (India) | |
| Assumed office 24 March 2025 | |
| President | Conrad Sangma |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Chairman, Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation | |
| Assumed office 5 April 2023 | |
| Constituency | Dadenggre |
| In office 2008–2023 | |
| Preceded by | Sengman R Marak |
| Succeeded by | Rupa M Marak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1975 |
| Party | National People's Party (2013–present) |
Other political affiliations | Nationalist Congress Party (until 2013) |
| Spouse | Jasmine B. Sangma |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives |
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| Education | B.A. – Ramjas College, University of Delhi |
| Occupation | Politician · Public Service |
James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma (born 21 November 1975) is an Indian politician from Meghalaya. A senior figure in the National People's Party (NPP), he has served as the party’s first National Working President since March 2025 and as Chairman of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) from April 2023.
He was a three-term member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (2008–2023) representing Dadenggre and held key cabinet portfolios—including Home, Power, Law, Food & Civil Supplies, and Forest & Environment—in the Conrad Sangma ministry between 2018 and 2021.
He has been elected for Rajya Sabha in June 2026.
Sangma was born in Tura to the political family of former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma. After schooling at Don Bosco institutions, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ramjas College, University of Delhi. Like his siblings—Conrad and Agatha—he entered politics early, campaigning for his father in parliamentary elections.
Following the 2018 election, Sangma entered the Conrad-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government. Over the next three years he simultaneously headed Home (Police), District Council Affairs, Power, Law, Food & Civil Supplies, Forest & Environment and Health.
In 2020–21 coalition partners and the opposition demanded his removal over alleged irregularities in the state-owned Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). Amid pressure, the Home portfolio was re-allocated in February 2020 and Power in September 2021.
In the 2023 assembly election he lost Dadenggre to Trinamool Congress candidate Rupa M. Marak by seven votes, ending a 15-year stint as MLA.
Despite the defeat, the NPP elevated Sangma to National Working President in March 2025 during its organisational overhaul for 2025–28, tasking him with pan-India expansion of the party.
As Forest & Environment minister, Sangma articulated a concept of turning Meghalaya into an “Environment State”, promoting nature-based industries, carbon farming and biodiversity mapping.
He spearheaded the Meghalaya Mental Health and Social Care Policy, approved on 29 November 2022, making the state the first in North-East India with a dedicated mental-health framework.
Under his chairmanship, MIDC achieved ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification and secured a ₹200 crore investment from Varun Beverages for a PepsiCo bottling plant.
| Year | Constituency | Party | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rongchugiri | NCP | Won | 2 ,361 | |
| 2013 | Dadenggre | NPP | Won | 3 ,724 | |
| 2018 | Won | 4 ,995 | |||
| 2023 | Lost | 18 | |||