NONGPOH: As predicted in Ri Bhoi District, out of the five seats to the Khasi Hills Autonomous Distric Council, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) won two seats each while an independent candidate won one seat.
The newly elected MDCs are Victor Ranee of INC from Jirang, Arbinus Lyngdoh of INC from Umroi, Rona Khymdeit of UDP from Nongpoh, Donkupar Sumer of UDP from Umsning and surrendered HNLC cadre and independent candidate James Sylliang from Mawhati.
Ranee who secured the highest vote in the district with 11,382 votes humbled his closet rival and HSPDP candidate Nosi Lyngdoh with a giant margin of 7219 votes as the latter secured 4163 votes followed by Independent candidate A Lapang (1901), UDP candidate Balawan Syiemiong (1270) and KHNAM candidate Kordios Thongni (944). Virtually there was not much of a contest for Ranee as even after adding the votes of the all the candidates he is still emerges as the winner with a huge margin of 3104.
The electorates of Nongpoh constituency have showed it again that they do not elect MDCs from the same party of the MLA as they elected UDP candidate and lady advocate Rona Khymdeit to power. She secured total votes of 9803 and defeated her party biggest rival INC candidate Augustine Wahlang with a huge margin of 3406 votes as the latter secured 6397 votes followed by HSPDP candidate Badhok Nongmalieh with 2267 votes.
History repeated itself in Mawhati constituency with the electorates reposing their trust in the hand of a surrendered HNLC to voice for their grievances as they elected former HNLC chairman J K Dorphang as MLA last year and now they entrusted the mantle of MDC to SHNLC cadre and Independent candidate James Sylliang.
Sylliang secured 7268 votes defeating his nearest rival and sitting MDC and Independent candidate Otril Pamshong by huge margin of 2423 votes as the latter got 4845 votes. While INC candidate R B Shadap bagged 4563 votes followed by UDP candidate BK Tmung with 2990 and HSPDP candidate Khrawpyrkhat Marwein got 801 votes.
Former KSU, North Khasi Hills president and UDP candidate Donkupar Sumer created history in the newly created constituency Umsning by becoming its first MDC. Sumer who bagged 7809 votes outplayed his nearest rival and independent candidate Carlos Kharkongor by 2318 votes as the latter got 5491. INC candidate Dipul Ryntathiang got 3975 votes while H Marbaniang polled the lowest votes in the district with 304 votes.
The electorates of Umroi constituency elected former Meghalaya police constable and INC candidate Arbinus Lyngdoh to power.
He bagged 6046 votes and defeated his nearest rival and UDP candidate Kiorsing Hinge with the lowest margin in the district of 1051 votes as Hinge got 4995 votes.
Other candidates in the fray namely Micky Dauglas Syiem (independent) got 3501 votes followed by CSWO (I) general secretary and KHNAM candidate Christabell Wanniang with 1467 votes and HSPDP candidate Pynwanbor Sylliang secured only 946 votes.