Congress emerges as single largest party after retaining Ampati

SHILLONG, MAY 31: The opposition Congress on Thursday became the single largest party in Meghalaya after it retained the Ampati, a strong bastion of former chief minister and now opposition leader Mukul Sangma, when his daughter Miani D Shira won the bye-election by a margin of over 3,000 votes.

Miani (27) defeated her closest rival from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) candidate Clement G Momin by 3191 votes. She secured 14,259 votes.

The bye-election held on May 28 was necessitated following Mukul who won from both Ampati and Songsak seats decided to leave the Ampati seat.

However, the winning margin of the Congress has reduced drastically compared to the February 27 Assembly elections when Mukul defeated BJP candidate Bakul Ch Hajong by a huge margin of 8104 votes.

On the other hand, the ruling NPP candidate could manage to secure a total of 11,069 votes while an Independent candidate Subhankar Koch with only 360 votes. A total of 208 of 25895 eligible voters have casted their vote for NOTA.

With today’s victory, the opposition Congress has increased its strength to 21 MLAs in the 60-member house leaving behind the NPP with only 20.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Conrad Kongal Sangma expressed his congratulations to Miani for having won the bye-election in Ampati.

Also extending his thanks to the people who have supported the party, Conrad however said that the NPP had done quite well by the fact that it could reduced the winning margin of the Congress to only 3,000.

Earlier, the NPP was successful in snatching the Williamnagar seat from the Congress in the election that was held last month.

The regional parties – the United Democratic Party having 7 MLAs, People’s Democratic Front (4), HSPDP (2) and the BJP (2) besides an MLA each of the NCP and an Independent are constituents of the MDA government.

Interestingly, Miani will be joining her father, mother Dikkanchi D Shira, and uncle Zenith M Sangma as opposition in the tenth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

By Our Reporter