SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has predicted a direct contest with the BJP in Shillong seat over the non-tribal votes, but claimed its share is more.
UDP has fielded Jemino Mawthoh, who is also the MDA’s consensus choice, as its candidate for the seat.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here, UDP leader Allan Dkhar said that there is absolutely no doubt about Mawthoh winning.
“The way all parties have rallied around gives us the confidence of winning,” he said.
While the BJP is counting on non-tribal votes to win from Shillong, the Opposition Congress is optimistic it would be able garner the votes.
The BJP in the last 2014 Lok Sabha polls was very happy because its candidate that time, Shibun Lyngdoh, got huge votes in the urban areas of Shillong and are hoping for a similar performance this time.
In the last polls, in South Shillong constituency where non-tribals constitute a major chunk of voters, BJP had got 10534 votes followed by Congress which got 4645 votes . The UDP got 1092 votes
Talking about West Shillong, UDP got 3921 votes while BJP got 6591 votes and Congress got 3407 votes.
In Pynthorumkhrah constituency, BJP had got 6984 votes followed by Congress with 4183 votes and UDP a mere 1537 votes.
In North Shillong too, BJP was led with 5165 votes followed by Congress with 4233 votes and UDP 1955 votes.
In East Shillong , Congress got 5293 votes followed by the BJP which got 4361 votes and UDP 1650 votes.
However, in the entire East Khasi Hills, Congress was led as its candidate, Vincent Pala, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls got 86759 votes followed by BJP’s Shibun Lyngdoh with 53136 votes and UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh with 44854 votes.
