From Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: The five constituencies in West Khasi Hills with over one lakh electorate will be a deciding factor for candidates contesting the Shillong Lok Sabha seat on April 11.
The five Assembly segments — Nongstoin, Mawshynrut, Rambrai- Jyrngam, Mawthadraishan and Mairang — together have 1,79,289 voters.
In the last Assembly elections, the Congress secured only one seat, Rambrai-Jyrngam. The UDP and the NPP bagged two constituencies each.
Surprisingly, in the recent Council election, the Congress increased its seats to three from one in the Assembly constituency. The UDP and the NPP retained only Mawthadraishan and Mawshynrut, respectively.
Political observers feel that though the Congress failed to get maximum seats in the KHADC election and was not able to form the Executive Committee, people’s perception may change in the Lok Sabha polls.
The UDP is yet to make a mark in two to three constituencies in West Khasi Hills and it may take more time for voters in Nongstoin to recognise the drum symbol as till date the party organisation is too weak in the area. In the previous Assembly elections and Council polls, the UDP got votes ranging from 1,000 to 1,300.
In Rambrai-Jyrngam, UDP has not created any impact but in Mawshynrut, the party won the council seat for the first time in 2009.
The break-up of votes in the five constituencies is — Nongstoin 36,480, Mawshynrut 35,369, Rambrai-Jyrngam 33,770, Mawthadraishan 37,242 and Mairang 36,428.
The effort of the four MLAs of MDA coalition will be crucial to ensure that the drum symbol of UDP is accepted by the people.
Maximum votes from the four constituencies in West Khasi Hills can be secured if all the four MLAs work together for the cause of the MDA common candidate Jemino Mawthoh and at present, all four MLAs are vigorously campaigning for the candidate.
Recently, all the MLAs and members of the four political parties — including NPP, UDP, HSPDP, and PDF — held a meeting in Nongstoin to discuss about the programme for campaigning for the MDA candidate in the election and all of them have come to a decision to strengthen their respective constituencies and elect Mawthoh as MP of Shillong.