SHILLONG, MAR 3: Meghalaya has not given any party a clear majority, although the ruling Congress has emerged as the single largest party winning in 21 seats of the 59 Assembly constituency.
Opposition National People’s Party (NPP), an NDA ally at the centre, which earlier had only two MLAs in the 60-House member, followed closely behind the long-ruling Congress party in as many as 19 seats.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could secure only two seats of the 47 they contested despite aggressive campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and central ministers.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma won from both the seats – Ampati and Songsak – with a comfortable margin.
Sangma retained his home constituency by defeating his closest rival Bakul Ch Hajong of the BJP by a huge margin of 8104 and also defeating NPP sitting MLA of Songsak Nihim D Shira by a margin of only 1830 despite predictions that he would lose in both the seats.
His wife and brother also managed to retain their seats in Mahendraganj and Rangsakona respectively.
While Dikkanchi D Shira defeated BJP’s Premananda Koch by a huge margin of 7861 votes, Zenith Sangma, also a cabinet minister also defeated his rival Subir M Marak of the NPP by a margin of 1977 votes.
In a setback to the regional political parties like United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) which had forged a pre-poll alliance in 36 seats in Khasi Hills region, most of their sitting legislators lost to new faces and first timer.
The UDP won from only 6 seats while its alliance partner HSPDP got only two seats.
Of the eight MLAs the UDP had earlier, only it’s Chief Donkupar Roy, who is also leader of opposition, Metbah Lyngdoh and Brolding Nongsiej could retain their seats in Shella, Mairang and Mawthadraishan respectively.
The HSPDP on the other suffered a major blow when all its four MLAs including the party president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit lost in the just concluded Assembly polls.
On the other hand, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a former ally of the Congress, which fielded in 20 seats, could only win in one seat. NCP state chief Saleng A Sangma retained the Gambegre seat defeating Congress nominee Sadhiarani M Sangma, wife of cabinet minister Zenith Sangma by a margin of only 105 votes.
While People’s Democratic Front (PDF), a newly floated party got four of 26 seats it contested, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) got one seat. Only three of 80 Independents who contested the Assembly elections got elected.
Some of the prominent faces who won the elections also include cabinet ministers – MM Danggo from Ranikor constituency and Ampareen Lyngdoh from East Shillong constituency.
Danggo defeated UDP’s Pius Marwein by a margin of 2002 votes while Ampareen defeated BJP’s Neil Antonio War by a margin of 6074 votes.
Former health minister AL Hek and former Assembly deputy speaker Sanbor Shullai, who both contested from the BJP, also managed to retain their seats in Pynthorumkhrah and South Shillong respectively.
Hek defeated PDF sitting MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit by a margin of 1418, while Shullai defeated Congress nominee Manas Chaudhuri by a margin of 5097.
Those who retained their seats also include three former cabinet ministers who are now NPP leaders – Prestone Tynsong from Pynursla, Sniawbhalang Dhar from Nartiang and Comingone Ymbon from Raliang.
Former Tura MP and NPP leader Agatha K Sangma also made her come back when she defeated BJP’s Billykid A Sangma, a former MLA by a margin of 1603 votes. Her brother, James K Sangma also retained his Dadenggre seat by defeating IND Rupa M Marak by 2753 votes.
Of the total 32 female candidates, only Ampareen and Agatha were elected to the 60 member House.
Meanwhile the former bureaucrats who won the elections include Synstar Klas Sunn, a retired chief engineer of PHE department and Himalayan Muktan Shangpliang, who was a former IAS officer.
Sunn, who contested as an independent, defeated sitting Congress MLA of Mawphlang constituency Kennedy Khriem by a margin of 718 votes while Shangpliang defeated PDF leader and former Mawsynram MLA Pynshngainlang N Syiem by a margin of 794 votes.
Seat allocation:
INC – 21
NPP – 19
UDP – 6
NCP – 1
PDF – 4
HSPDP – 2
BJP – 2
KHNAM – 1
IND – 3
Winning candidates constituency-wise:-
Sohiong – HSPDP sitting MDC Samlin Malngiang defeated Cabinet minister HDR Lyngdoh by 622.
Nongpoh – Congress nominee Mayralborn Syiem defeated UDP sitting MDC Rona Khymdeit by margin of 3324
Sohra – PDF Gavin Miguel defeated sitting UDP MLA Titosstarwel Chyne by 2024
Nongthymmai – former Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope defeated sitting UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh by margin of 957
North Shillong – KHNAM leader Adelbert Nongrum defeated BJP’s JA Lyngdoh by margin of 406
Jirang – NPP’s Sosthenes Sohtun defeated Congress nominee Witness Day Stancley by 220. The constituency was earlier represented by Lamboklang Mylliem who joined the PDF. He got 9437 votes.
Mawhati – NPP Dasakhiatbha Lamare defeated independent sitting MLA Julius K Dorphang by margin of 204.
Mylliem – PDF’s Hamlet Dohling defeated cabinet minister of the Congress Ronnie V Lyngdoh by margin of 465
Nongkrem – Independent Lambor Malngiang defeated two-time HSPDP MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit by margin of only 76.
Mawkynrew – sitting PDF MDC Banteidor Lyngdoh defeated HSPDP candidate Martle N Mukhim by margin of 509 votes.
Mawkyrwat – HSPDP Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar defeated Congress nominee Carnes Sohshang by margin of 458.
Mawlai – Congress sitting MDC Process T Sawkmie defeated Independent Teiborlang Pathaw by margin of 1574 votes.
Mawryngkneng – sitting MLA who contested on a Congress ticket David A Nongrum defeated PDF’s Highlander Kharmalki by margin of 3763.
Mawshynrut – NPP Gigur Myrthong defeated sitting HSPDP MLA Witting Mawsor by margin of 3424.
Nongstoin – NPP Macmillan Byrsat defeated Congress nominee Gabriel Wahlang by margin of 60
Rambrai Jyrngam – sitting MDC of Congress Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang defeated sitting HSPDP MLA K Phlastingwell Pangniang by 3803
Umroi – Congress nominee George Bankyntiew Lyngdoh defeated NPP sitting MLA Ngaitlang Dhar by 1018
Umsning – PDF Jason Sawkmie Mawlong defeated cabinet minister and MPCC chief Celestine Lyngdoh by 70
West Shillong – Congress nominee Mohendro Rapsang defeated UDP sitting MLA Paul Lyngdoh by 1984
Amlarem – UDP Lahkhmen Rymbui (14766) defeated Stephanson Mukhim of NPP (12135) – margin 2631. In 2013 he won by margin 9096. He got 14766
Jowai – NPP Wailadmiki Shylla defeated UDP Moonlight Pariat by margin 1303. He got 10657 while moonlight 9354.
Khliehriat – UDP Kyrmen Shylla defeated sitting MLA Justine Dkhar of BJP by margin of 8181
Mowkaiaw – UDP Nujorki Sungoh defeated NPP’s Gilbert Sten by margin of 260.
Sutnga Saipung – Congress former MLA Shitlang Pale defeated sitting MLA who joined NPP Hopeful Bamon by 1584
Baghmara – Independent Samuel M Sangma defeated Congress’s Sirgan A Sangma by margin of 103. Samuel got 2714 votes.
Bajengdoba – NPP Pongseng Marak defeated sitting Independent MLA who joined Congress Brigady Napak Marak by 1964. He got 11648 votes.
Chokpot – Lazarus Sangma of the Congress defeated GNC chief Kalpana D Sangma by margin of 171. Votes polled 1935
Dalu – NPP Brening A Sangma defeated sitting Congress MLA Kenethson A Sangma by 773. Brening got 4055 votes
Kharkutta – NPP Rupert Momin polled 14654 and defeated sitting MLA Cherak Watre Momin by margin of 809
Mendipathar – sitting MLA and Congress nominee Marthon Sangma defeated NPP’s Frankenstein W Momin by margin of 2677.
North Tura – NPP Thomas A Sangma defeated sitting Congress MLA Noverfield R Marak by margin of 2096.
Phulbari – SG Esmatur Mominin defeated Assembly Speaker of the Congress AT Mondal by margin of 1134
Rajabala – Congress Dr Azad Zaman defeated sitting Independent MLA Ashahel D Shira by 938
Raksamgre – NPP Benedict R Marak defeated sitting Congress MLA Limison D Sangma by 624
Resubelpara – NPP Timothy Shira defeated Congress veteran Salseng C Marak by 1763
Rongara Siju – NPP Rakkam A Sangma defeated sitting MLA IND Rophul S Marak by margin of 858
Rongjeng – NPP Jim M Sangma defeated IND Walseng M Sangma by 550
Salmanpara – Congress sitting MLA Winnerson D Sangma defeated NPP Ian Botham K Sangma by 1915
Selsella – Congress cabinet minister Clement Marak defeated NPP Ferlin CA Sangma by 3597
Tikrikilla – Congress Jimmy D Sangma defeated IND Rahinath Barchung by 1407
By Our Reporter
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