Jyndiang defeats Gabriel by over 2000 votes lTwo candidates forfeit their security deposits
NONGSTOIN/SHILLONG: Riding a massive wave of public sympathy, HSPDP nominee Diosstarness Jyndiang has retained Nongstoin Assembly seat, result of which was declared on Tuesday.
Jyndiang defeated his nearest rival Gabriel Wahlang of Congress by 2,764 votes.
Jyndiang, a former aide of Hoping Stone Lyngdoh and the youngest candidate amongst the four contenders, secured 11,189 votes while Wahlang, a former deputy chairman of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, garnered 8,425 votes.
Two other candidates in the by-poll – Mosklandar Marngar of the UDP and lone woman independent candidate Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait polled 1,257 and 3,131 votes respectively.
Of the 24191votes polled, 189 voters opted for the None of the Above (NOTA) category in the by-election.
Both Marngar and Nonglait lost their security deposit.
Chief Electoral officer P Naik said that the candidates should secure more than one sixth of the total votes polled (24191) to escape from the loss of security deposit.
The by-poll, recorded an 81.96 percent turnout.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of HSPDP legislator Hoping Stone Lyngdoh.
With this victory, the HSPDP now has four MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
An elated Jyndiang later told newsmen that border issue would top his priority list.
In his reaction, the party supremo Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said “HSPDP retaining Nongstoin assembly seat in the by-election shows that people of Meghalaya have lost faith in the Congress party”.
CM’s reaction: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, meanwhile, has said Congress lost the election due to inherent challenges within the party.
Sangma, however, expressed happiness over Congress candidate securing more than 8000 votes.
When asked if rebellion by Dr Advisor Pariong have had an impact on the party’s show, he replied in affirmative saying “every vote is important.”
“Some people have left the party because of their personal interest,” Sangma said while congratulating the people of Nongstoin for coming out in large number to exercise their franchise.
