From Saurav Bora
NONGPOH: It was all about transformation with a young brigade taking over Ri Bhoi by storm as Congress and NPP shared honours while PDF took the “cake”.
While Mayralborn Syiem and George B. Lyngdoh of Congress won Nongpoh and Umsning respectively, Sosthenes Sohtun, and the youngest of the lot, Dasakhiat Lamare of NPP triumphed in Jirang and Mawhati respectively.
But the “giant-killing act” came from PDF’s Jason S. Mawlong who fought neck and neck for most part of the day to eventually defeat Congress’ Celestine Lyngdoh.
Mentored by none other than former chief minister D.D Lapang, Mayralborn’s victory was the most convincing as he bagged 11,119 votes to defeat UDP’s Rona Khymdeit who secured 7,795 votes.
The other margins were relatively slender. Jason won by just 70 votes to take Umsning, Dasakhiat defeated Julias Dorphang (Independent) by 204 votes for Mawhati, Sosthenes defeated Congress’ Witness Day Sancley by 220 votes to clinch Jirang while George defeated NPP’s Ngaitlang Dhar by 1018 votes for Umroi.
The cheers, which came periodically at the end of each round, grew shriller by 3pm when the results of four constituencies were declared. By 4pm, all the results were out as the winners, in their traditional headgear, walked out one by one to be in the midst of their supporters who waited patiently since counting began here at 8 am.
Earlier in the day, the entire stretch from Pahamrioh through Umlingdait and Nongpoh was chock-a-block with all kinds of vehicles and several thousands of people who took every vantage point available on the ground and atop restaurants and residences for the “final countdown”. The ambience was carnival-like from morning till late afternoon. The music, slogans and victory cries flowed from all corners as vehicles with flags forking out from their windows moving to and fro on the “cramped” highway.
Security men comprising CISF, CRPF and Meghalaya police along with traffic personnel had to be at their best to manage moving vehicles and an army of enthusiastic supporters.
The State Sports Council building, where the counting of votes took place from 8am to about 4pm, was the cynosure of all eyes, for a change. The green structure, heavily guarded for obvious reasons, has been neglected much too often in the past.
The Nongpoh outcome was in a way a fitting tribute to Lapang by an electorate who was so used to the “Father of Ri Bhoi” for four decades now.
Lapang had held Mayralborn in high regard after casting his vote here on Tuesday and how right he was. “He will win as he is capable, talented and educated,” the veteran had told The Shillong Times.
An elated Sohtun, paid a whirlwind visit to his Byrnihat house after the triumph before moving to the party headquarters in Shillong in the evening. “I thank the people for entrusting their faith in me. I have no words to express my happiness today,” he told this correspondent.
Jason, who too was in cloud nine as he raised his thumped fist after the win acknowledged his supporters, some of whom even hugged and kissed him. Earlier, Mayralborn, George and Dasakhiat too were greeted by similar emotions.
As evening approached, the winners were seen waving at their supporters, from the road and atop vehicles. For the former MLAs, be it Ngaitlang, Celestine, Lamboklang Mylliemgap (Jirang) and Julias, who had scripted history of sorts to contest the polls from prison but lost only marginally, it was an evening to reflect and analyse as to what went wrong.