SHILLONG: Though both the MDA coalition partners, NPP and UDP, claim that the win of Pius Marwein will not have any impact on their future relations, NPP has admitted it was a shocker for them.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, in his response, said it was a surprise for the party that its candidate MM Danggo lost though he was a senior leader and loved by people.
He, however, expressed that he was happy since it was an MDA win as the UDP is part of MDA coalition.
Sangma added that it was a disastrous performance on the part of the Congress candidate in Ranikor.
NPP state president WR Kharlukhi also admitted that it was shocking to hear the defeat of Danggo. He, however, added that the Congress is the worst affected in both the by-polls.
Kharlukhi reiterated that the future polls will be fought among the MDA partners and the Congress lost its relevance.
He also referred to the Congress candidate in Ranikor losing his security deposit.
The NPP state president added that there will not be any betrayal on the part of either NPP or UDP and the MDA coalition will last its full term.
But for NPP, it was the first major defeat in the hands of a coalition partner in Ranikor and not the Congress.
In the Ampati by-poll, the NPP candidate was defeated by its archrival Congress compared to Ranikor.
In response to the results, Congress spokesperson Zenith Sangma said the defeat of Danggo was due to his defection.
“Voters do not like defectors and they gave a fitting reply to Danggo,” Zenith said over phone from Tura.
He said while the Congress candidate in Tura performed well by securing over 5,000 votes, the party did not get enough time in Ranikor to prepare the groundwork after Danggo left the Congress.
