SHILLONG, FEB 28: Meghalaya chief minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma retained his Ampati seat and his wife Dikkanchi Momin, who contested the election for the first time on Congress ticket from Mahendraganj also won.
The chief minister clinched the Ampati seat beating his nearest rival NPP candidate Clement G Momin with a big margin. Sangma polled a total 10, 175 votes while Momin polled only 3175 votes. The third Independent candidate Mahran Hajong polled only 759 votes.
Sangma’s wife Dikkachi D Shira also won the Mahendraganj seat polling a total of 11, 580 votes beating his nearest rival UDP sitting legislator Nimarson Momin who polled 4721 votes.
Three Congress ministers HDR Lyngdoh, Ampareen Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong have retained their seats and won beating their rivals. A new entrant to the Meghalaya assembly and Congress candidate Kennedy Khyriem turn out to be a giant killer as he defeating UDP candidate and sitting minister JA Lyngdoh.
HDR Lyngdoh won from his Sohiong constituency, Ampareen Lyngdoh from Shillong East, Prestone Tynsong from Pynursla and Kennedy Khyirem from Mawphlang constituency.
The Congress has now clinched eight seats so far.
The HSPDP president Hopingstone Lyngdoh from Nongstoin and Ardent Basaiawmoit from Nongkrem constituencies also won.
The NPP has so far clinched only the Songsak constituency with its sitting legislator Nihim D Shira retaining his seat.
Earlier the Congress won the seven seats when its candidate Cherak Momin clinched the Kharkutta seats in the East Garo hills district. Sitting NPP legislator Omillo K Sangma lost the seat. All together five candidates contested the Kharkutta seat.
The second seat was clinched by Congress candidate Sengnam Marak from the Rongjeng seat beating sitting NPP legislator Desang M Sangma. A total number of nine candidates contested the Rongjeng seat in East Garo hills district.
Earlier, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president and former deputy chief minister Deborah Marak clinched the Williamnagar seat beating her nearest rival Independent candidate Jonathan N Sangma by1982 votes. Sitting legislator and NPP candidate Maruius N Marak lost by the seat.
Deborah polled total votes of 6148 followed by Jonathane N Sangma 4166 and NPP Maruius N Marak who polled total votes of 3344 failing to retain the seat.
Deborah Marak became the first Congress candidate to win. She had contest the Williamnagar seat the district headquarter of the East Garo hills district.
