Pala got the better of his opponents in 17 constituencies
SHILLONG: Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NPP chief, Purno Agitok Sangma has performed better in the Tura Parliamentary seat compared to Congress MP Vincent H Pala in Shillong Parliamentary seat.
Sangma who won the Tura seat for the tenth time had got the better of his opponent Daryl Momin of Congress in 18 Assembly constituencies while Pala, who will represent the Shillong seat for the second time, could manage lead in only 17 constituencies.
As per the official figures, the former Lok Sabha Speaker performed better in those constituencies which are held by Congress MLAs.
Sangma was ahead in Phulbari which is represented by AT Mondal, the present Assembly Speaker. The NPP chief secured 9273 votes, while Momin had to be satisfied with 8734 votes.
The Congress nominee was expected to give a tough fight to Sangma considering the performance of the party in Garo Hills during the 2013 Assembly election.
The NPP had won only two seats in the last Assembly election in the State.
Despite Chief Minister Mukul Sangma going all out to campaign for the young Congress nominee, Purno had the last laugh in Garo Hills. The Congress candidate, however, fared well in Ampati and Mahendraganj, presently represented the Chief Minister and his wife Dikanchi D Shira respectively.
Momin got 14445 and 14793 votes in Ampati and Mahendraganj respectively. Purno on the other hand could manage 6126 in the Chief Ministers’ constituency and 7633 in Mahendraganj. The NPP chief could not do well in Selsella, which was once represented by his son Conrad K Sangma.
The junior Sangma had lost the seat to present Power Minister Clement Marak in the last Assembly election. Coming to the Shillong Parliamentary seat, Pala, perhaps could have performed better if not for the internal rumblings in the party. The Congress MP suffered in the two constituencies (Umroi and Nartiang) represented by the Dhar brothers (Ngaitlang Dhar and Sniawbhalang Dhar) who openly campaigned against Pala in favour of Independent candidate, PBM Basaiawmoit.
In Umroi, Pala got 3071 votes compared to Basaiawmoit’s 5640 while in Nartiang, the Congress MP secured 5666 votes against the Independent candidate’s 7696 votes.
Interestingly, Pala got some respite in Pynursla and Mylliem which are the constituencies of Prestone Tynsong and Ronnie V Lyngdoh, both of whom had opposed Pala’s candidature.
In Pynursla, the Congress MP managed 6232 votes while in Mylliem, he got 4929 votes.
Pala, however, could not do well in at least six of the seven Assembly constituencies in Shillong.
BJP candidate Shibun Lyngdoh led in Pynthorumkhrah, Shillong-South, Shillong-West and Shillong North which were the constituencies which had maximum number of non-tribal voters. Basaiawmoit was leading in Mawlai constituency. Shillong-East is the only constituency where Pala had the lead with 5293 votes to his name.