SHILLONG: Will the Congress be able to retain its bastion for the 9th time in Shillong?
The past records since 1977 show that out of 11 elections held, the Congress won eight times.
The exceptions were in 1977 when late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh from HSPDP defeated Congress candidate Peter Garnette Marbaniang.
While Lyngdoh polled 55,732 votes, Marbaniang secured 50,967.
Other contestants were Independent, George Gilbert Swell (38,841 votes) and Paty Ripple Kyndiah of APHLC (38,606).
In 1983, Bajubon R Kharlukhi from APHLC was the winner.
In 1984, George Gilbert Swell, who contested from the Congress, was elected winner by defeating Independent candidate B Pakem.
In the next polls in 1989, Peter Garnette Marbaniang of the Congress emerged winner after he defeated Swell, who contested as Independent.
The winning spree of the Congress continued as in 1991, Congress candidate Marbaniang defeated Independent Swell.
Swell, who contested again as Independent, however, staged a comeback in 1996 after he defeated his rival DD Lapang from the Congress.
From 1998 till 2014, the Congress continued to win the seat.
In 1998, PR Kyndiah from the Congress defeated Swell, who contested from UDP and yet again in 1999, Kyndiah defeated SD Khongwir of the UDP.
In 2004, Kyndiah, contesting from the Congress, repeated his victory by defeating Independent S Loniak Marbaniang, who was supported by the regional parties.
After Kyndiah gave way to Vincent Pala to contest the Shillong seat in 2009, the latter who contested from the Congress for the first time, secured a win by defeating his rival, UDP candidate John Kharshiing.
In 2014, Congress leader Pala retained the Shillong seat after defeating PBM Basaiawmoit, who contested as Independent.
