SHILLONG: The by-polls to the district council constituencies will be a test for the popularity of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh representing Sohiong (Nongspung-Sohiong district council constituency), HSPDP’s Ardent Basaiawmoit (Nongkrem) and former deputy speaker of the Assembly Sanbor Shullai, who represents South Shillong (Laban-Mawprem district council constituency) besides other sitting legislators who resigned after the hurriedly passed dual posts Act came into existence in October last year.
In the last district council polls in 2014, HDR Lyngdoh had defeated his nearest rival Wankupar Syiemlieh by a margin of 1,223 votes.
The UDP has fielded Syiemlieh this time to contest against HDR Lyngdoh’s son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai. Other candidates in the fray from Nongspung-Sohiong are Samlin Malngniang (HSPDP), Kyntiewborlang Syiemlieh (BJP) and Fret Mawlong (Independent).
For the Home Minister, this is a prestigious battle as he is using the council by-poll as a launch pad for his son’s political career.
Critics have pointed out that the spirit of the dual post Act is not being followed in Sohiong since Lyngdoh chose his son to be the Congress nominee for the by-poll.
However, if there is any set back, this may also reflect the poll prospects of Lyngdoh in the 2018 Assembly polls.
For the last few weeks, Lyngdoh has been campaigning for his son at Sohiong taking a break from the Secretariat affairs.
In Nongkrem in the last election, Basaiawmoit defeated his UDP rival Edarstar Lyngdoh Nongbri by a margin of 2,527 votes. This time Nongbri is contesting on a KHNAM ticket.
After a political hiatus, former KHADC chief Hispreachering Son Shylla, who has joined UDP, is trying to stage a comeback from Nongkrem. While Ardent had fielded Hubert Ford Riang from his party, others in the fray are Lamborsing Nongrum (Congress) and Mamiry Nongkhlaw (BJP).
Expectation from the HSPDP president Ardent is high as the party had secured as many as seven seats in the polls to KHADC held in 2014. The election result will indicate whether Ardent is still popular.
As far as Laban seat is concerned, in the last KHADC election, NCP president Sanbor Shullai had defeated HSPDP candidate Banri Kupar Wahlang by a margin of 1389 votes.
This time too Wahlang is in the fray, while Shullai, who has fielded his nephew Ricky Shullai, is making all efforts to retain the seat for NCP as it is a crucial fight for him.
Other candidates include Fedrick Joplang Lyngshiang (UDP), Bankhraw Sing Kharbuli (KHNAM), Hubert Marbaniang (BJP) and Allowis Dohtdong (Independent).
Though the by-poll was forced upon the voters following the dual post Act which barred MLAs from contesting the district council polls, the election is crucial for legislators like Brolding Nongsiej (UDP), KP Pangniang (HSPDP), Metbah Lyngdoh (UDP) and Stephanson Mukhim (Independent) who had won from the district council constituencies of Pariong-Mawthadraishan, Rambrai- Jyrngam, Mairang-Nongkhlaw and War East, respectively in 2014.
