Afaque Hussain
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister and leader of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Conrad K Sangma, has been elected to Meghalaya Assembly in the by-election held to South Tura Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) by defeating his nearest rival from Congress, Charlotte W Momin, while Pius Marwein from United Democratic Party (UDP) has won from Ranikor LAC defeating his nearest rival from NPP, Martin M Danggo by a margin of 2896 votes.
With all the constituents of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) supporting him, the victory for Conrad was hugely expected , but it was a surprise defeat for five-time MLA, Martin M Danggo , who lost to the UDP’s Marwein at Ranikor, given that Ranikor is considered a citadel for him.
Conrad Sangma polled 13656 votes and defeated his nearest Congress rival, who polled only 5235 votes, by a margin of 8421 votes. Two other independent candidates in fray John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma polled 2211 and 897 votes, respectively.
In Ranikor, the UDP winner Marwein polled 13,183 votes against 10,287 votes polled by his nearest rival Martin M Danggo of NPP. P N Syiem of People’s Democratic Front (PDF) polled 1978 votes while Congress candidate Jackiush A Sangma polled 938 votes.
The NPP candidate Martin M Danggo has represented Ranikor LAC in Meghalaya House for five consecutive times so far as a Congress MLA. However, he has contested the by-poll as the NPP candidate, as he had shifted allegiance from Congress to NPP recently after quitting as an MLA from Meghalaya House. He apparently quit the Congress as a gesture of gratitude after chief minister and NPP leader, Conrad Sangma had accepted and implemented his long-standing demand to upgrade Ranikor block to a civil sub-division.