NONGSTOIN: Garo voters of Mawshynrut and Rambrai- Jyrngam Constituency in West Khasi Hills District will play a decisive role in electing their new representatives in the ensuing KHADC polls.
Out of the total 25202 voters in Mawshynrut, there are 8000 Garo voters. Garo voters of Mawshynrut have in the past been affiliated to the INC and had given many victories to their candidate. This time there is just one Garo candidate in Mawshynrut- Andreas Gare of the UDP. The other promising candidates are Srally Rashir (INC) and Morningstar Mawsor (HSPDP).
Srally Rashir being a veteran politician and an ex MDC of the area and contesting on an INC ticket appears to have an upper hand. Morningstar Mawsor though a first timer cannot be taken for granted as he belongs to the ruling party.
However, anti incumbency factor could ruin his chances. Andreas Gare although contesting on a UDP ticket would inevitably draw Garo votes to his stride. Gare had also contested in the last Assembly election in 2013 but had failed to secure the desired votes. This may perhaps be because there had been more than one Garo candidate then that might have led to the distribution of the Garo votes.
This time round with only a single Garo candidate that too from the UDP, the Garo voters of Mawshynrut would have to make a tough choice to elect their new representative.
Rambrai- Jyrngam with a total of 21925 voters has about 6000 Garo voters. In the past, many Garo candidates from various parts of the state had contested from this constituency in a bid to garner the Garo voters. However, this new constituency had so far failed to produce a Garo representative. Perhaps because of this history, this time no Garo candidate has so far filed their nominations from Rambrai- Jyrngam constituency.
Promising players of this KHADC polls from this constituency are Kimfa Marbaniang (INC) and K P Pangniang (HSPDP) who is also the incumbent MLA. During the last Assembly election, Pangniang had been able to woo a major chunk of the Garo voters to his stride which had played a vital role in his win.
This KHADC polls, anti incumbency factor could spell some damage for Pangniang.
Seeking revenge for his loss in the Assembly elections of 2013, Kimfa Marbaniang is out to make sure that he leaves no stones unturned to turn the tide of victory to his favour this time round. In the last Assembly Elections of 2013, Kimfa had contested as an independent candidate after he was denied the INC ticket.
The prodigal son’s return to the INC is being taken seriously by all the candidates from the constituency. Recently, another candidate from Rambari- Jyrngam J T S Thongni, the President of the Rambrai- Jyrngam Block Congress Committee (RJBCC) had dissloved the RJBCC and had switched over to the UDP as its candidate.
This had created divisions within the INC. With only Khasi candidates in the fray, the candidates would have to bank on the Garo voters to win.