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.
The current election trend shows that Meghalaya voted overwhelmingly for a stable and a secure party. Admittedly, the Congress did err in allotting tickets to candidates with a chance of winning as in the case of David Nongrum, the Assembly Speaker’s son, but the fact of the matter is that people wanted a party that has the stability factor. Purno Sangma has only himself to blame. Once again, his thirst and haste for power and immortal fame has left himself and his party in complete and utter ruin. People are fed up with maverick wannabes who will stop at nothing to acquire their personal gains. The same goes to the UDP party too. They were a part and parcel of the Congress led government but the big boasting and holier than thou attitude as proclaimed by some of the party leaders has sown the seed of dismay in many of its staunchest supporters. Advisor Pariong became too big for his boots and his mentor old Bah Hoping gave him the sound thrashing that he deserves. Perhaps Advisor can be ‘advised’ to watch “Kungfu Panda” and maybe he’ll learn a thing or two about tiny old men.
The hustings are finally over and one can only hope and pray that those elected will have the good sense to realise that their victories rode on the faith, hope and aspiration that their electorate had on them. It’s time for the new government to show and prove why it was elected by looking beyond personal constituencies to the welfare of Meghalaya as a whole. Let good governance prevail: we the people deserve it, finally.