By Lamphrang Nongspung
SHILLONG: The battle for the newly delimited Pynursla Constituency is expected to be a very close one.
The constituency will witness a three-cornered contest with two sitting legislators- Prestone Tynsong (Congress) and Donkupar Massar (Independent) battling for the seat along with the lone UDP woman candidate Banalari Khongwar.
The areas under the new delimited constituency comprises of some parts of the previous two constituencies – Langkyrdem and Nongshken which were represented by both Tynsong and Massar respectively.
With the delimitation, the constituency has a total number of 51 polling stations (24 polling stations from previous Langkyrdem constituency and another 27 polling stations which was with the former Nongshken constituency). There are a total of 28195 voters in this border constituency.
The latest trend in the constituency shows a favored inclination towards Tynsong since he is expected to garner votes in majority of the polling stations in the constituency.
During a survey in various areas of the constituency, it was found that Tynsong has managed to make his presence felt in the areas which were earlier under Nongshken constituency. These areas used to be the strong hold of Massar. However, Massar is trying all out to see that there is a swing in his favour.
The problem for Massar in this election is that he has not been able to garner much support in areas under Langkyrdem which is a strong base of Tynsong.
Massar has reportedly made a very interesting assessment that if he manages to get 7000 votes from the polling stations in Nongshken together with 2000 votes from the polling stations in Langkyrdem, it would be enough for him to win the contest. But this assessment of Massar might raise a few eyebrows since he last secured only 5522 votes in the previous Assembly election.
Umñiuh and Nongjri were the two villages which was his stronghold in the last Assembly elections but following delimitation, it has been tagged with Shella Constituency and this is said to have a negative affect on his prospects. It would be extremely difficult for Massar to get 7000 votes from the polling stations in Nongshken alone.
The sitting Nongshken legislator said that he would make an announcement to his supporters whether he is going to win or lose the election in his public meeting to be held in the constituency on February 15.
Khongwar the likely ‘dark horse’
While the focus of the contest in Pynursla is more on Tynsong and Massar being the sitting legislators, the UDP lone woman candidate (Khongwar) is emerging as the dark horse.
It has been assessed that Khongwar is actually second in the race because of the strong regional party’s vote banks in the constituency right from the time of former Chief Minister late BB Lyngdoh.
Another factor which goes in favour of Khongwar is that this time no other regional party has put up their candidates to contest from the constituency. Neither KHNAM nor the MDP has fielded their candidates unlike in the 2008 Assembly election.
Tynsong would have been defeated in the last Assembly election from Langkyrdem if the regional parties had fought the election together, sources said.
The number of votes secured by each candidate from Langkyrdem constituency in 2008 were – Tynsong (7356 votes), KHNAM candidate late Dominic Roblin Nongkynrih (6553 votes) and UDP candidate Samuel Khongbuh (3541 votes). If total number of votes secured by the KHNAM and UDP candidate is combined together, Tynsong would have lost the election by 2738 votes. He (Tynsong) finally managed to win by narrow margin of 803 votes.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the UDP woman candidate has not been able to fully capitalize on this opportunity. It is found that Khongwar has failed to get all the KHNAM leaders into her fold which was very crucial to ensure her victory.
It has been informed that there are a few KHNAM leaders who are supporting Massar and Tynsong in this election.
Khan Khongdkhar, the former Congress MLA from Nongshken lost Congress ticket to Tynsong would also play a pivotal role in this whole contest. Though Khongdkhar did not join the race from Pynursla, his supporters however decided to support Khongwar.
Close contest between Tynsong and Massar
Meanwhile, the interesting part is that both the Congress and UDP candidates are following the policy invented by Massar which involves maintaining registers of the supporters who are sure to vote in their favour.
It may be mentioned that Massar had not held a single meeting during his campaign in the last Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, as per the survey, it is found that Tynsong is expected to lead in at least 16 out of the 24 polling stations in Langkyrdem alone. The polling stations in which Tynsong is expected to lead is Wahkhen, Mawkajem, Nongsder, Mawpran, Lyting Lyngdoh, Madan Shad Sngi, Wahlyngkhat, Siatbakon, Nongblai, Urksew, Myllat, Neng Gate, Pynursla, Iewduh, Lait Lyting and Mawlieh while Khongwar is expected to lead in Pynter, Nongkwai, Massar, Umkor and Mawkhap.
As it stands at present, Massar is expected to lead from only two polling stations under the previous Langkyrdem constituency which include Rangthylliang and Mynring.
Tynsong is also expected to lead in at least five out of the 27 polling stations which were earlier under Nongshken constituency. The polling stations which Tynsong is expected to lead are Mawlam, Mawlyngdun, Umkrem, Umsyiem and Nongtyngur.
Massar is expected to lead in six polling stations which were previously under Nongshken. These polling stations include Phlangtyngur, Pyrnia, Nongthymmai, Nongshken, Nongeitngiang and Lumwahñiai.
Khongwar is expected to lead from four polling stations (Nohwet, Mawshun, Lapalang and Tangmang) in the lower side of the constituency.
The picture in the remaining 12 polling stations which was previously under Nongshken is still unclear. It is found that there are polling stations where three candidates are likely to secure more or less similar number of votes. The fate of this whole contest would be known after the counting of votes on February 28.