SHILLONG/TURA, March 2: Conrad Sangma-led NPP and its principal coalition partner UDP defied strong anti-incumbency and exit poll predictions to comfortably romp home in the 11th Meghalaya Assembly.
The results of the hustings announced on Thursday have brought ecstasy for the duo, while leaving TMC crestfallen as it emerged as an “also-ran”, and BJP somewhat dismayed by the failure to add to the existing tally.
The NPP had worked for securing absolute majority but has fallen short narrowly, securing 26 seats. That Conrad & company withstood some stinging frontal attacks from BJP, TMC and Congress, speaks well for the party’s resourcefulness and election managerial capacity.
UDP had anticipated 15 seats but ended up with 11. Considering that UDP too had carried the burden of anti-incumbency and suffered loss of its charismatic leader Dr Donkupar Roy a few years ago, it will be in a happy frame of mind to find where they are today.
BJP had eyed 15 seats but could manage only to retain its two Shillong-based constituencies.
BJP went all out pressing into service all its trump cards, including PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The impressive response they evoked helped creating a credible perception that party would garner a few more seats this time. Although the saffron party’s vote share has gone up appreciably, the party leaders and workers will be disappointed by not being able to augment its presence in the state legislature.
The much fancied TMC which projected 20 seats for itself will be dismayed by picking up a mere five seats. As a new entrant, TMC did everything right but it did not find favour with most voters outside Garo Hills. There was hype and hoopla about its prospect of becoming a major player in the state. That was not to be.
Political observers said that BJP and TMC are both cut into anti-NPP votes, paving the way for NPP to scrape through by retaining its own support base. The same is said about the success story of UDP which benefited from BJP’s fair presence in multi-polar contests, particularly in urban constituencies.
Congress which was trying rise from the ashes, as it were, will have to be satisfied with five seats only. The defeat of MPCC president Vincent H Pala is a body blow for the party.
The credible show also came from the newly stitched VPP which has captured the imagination of voters in a short time through its refreshing call for “clean politics”. In most seats it gave a good account for itself, losing narrowly in two and picking up four.
| Constituency | Candidate‘S Name | PARTY |
| NARTIANG
|
SNIAWBHALANG DHAR
|
NPP
|
| JOWAI
|
WAILADMIKI SHYLLA
|
NPP
|
| RALIANG
|
COMING ONE YMBON
|
NPP
|
| MOWKAIAW
|
NUJORKI SUNGOH
|
UDP
|
| SUTNGA SAIPUNG
|
SANTA MARY SHYLLA
|
NPP
|
| KHLIEHRIAT
|
KYRMEN SHYLLA
|
UDP
|
| AMLAREM
|
LAHKMEN RYMBUI
|
UDP
|
| MAWHATI
|
CHARLES MARNGAR
|
INC
|
| NONGPOH
|
MAYRALBORN SYIEM
|
UDP
|
| JIRANG
|
SOSTHENES SOHTUN
|
NPP
|
| UMSNING
|
DR. CELESTINE LYNGDOH
|
INC
|
| UMROI
|
DAMANBAIT LAMARE
|
NPP
|
| MAWRYNGKNENG
|
HEAVING STONE KHARPRAN
|
VPP
|
| PYNTHORUMKHRAH
|
ALEXANDER LALOO HEK
|
BJP
|
| MAWLAI
|
BRIGHTSTARWELL MARBANIANG
|
VPP
|
| EAST SHILLONG
|
DR. MAZEL AMPAREEN LYNGDOH
|
NPP
|
| NORTH SHILLONG
|
ADELBERT NONGRUM
|
VPP
|
| WEST SHILLONG
|
PAUL LYNGDOH
|
UDP
|
| SOUTH SHILLONG
|
SANBOR SHULLAI
|
BJP
|
| MYLLIEM
|
RONNIE V. LYNGDOH
|
INC
|
| NONGTHYMMAI
|
CHARLES PYNGROPE
|
AITC
|
| NONGKREM
|
ARDENT M BASAIAWMOIT
|
VPP
|
| MAWPHLANG
|
MATTHEW B KURBAH
|
UDP
|
| MAWSYNRAM
|
OLLAN SINGH SUIN
|
UDP
|
| SHELLA
|
BALAJIED KUPAR SYNREM
|
UDP
|
| PYNURSLA
|
PRESTONE TYNSONG
|
NPP
|
| SOHRA
|
GAVIN MIGUEL MYLLIEM
|
PDF
|
| MAWKYNREW
|
BANTEIDOR LYNGDOH
|
PDF
|
| MAIRANG
|
METBAH LYNGDOH
|
UDP
|
| MAWTHADRAISHAN
|
SHAKLIAR WARJRI
|
HSPDP
|
| NONGSTOIN
|
GABRIEL WAHLANG
|
INC
|
| RAMBRAI JYRNGAM
|
REMINGTON GABIL MOMIN
|
IND
|
| MAWSHYNRUT
|
METHODIUS DKHAR
|
HSPDP
|
| RANIKOR
|
PIUS MARWEIN
|
UDP
|
| MAWKYRWAT
|
RENIKTON L TONGKHAR
|
UDP
|
| KHARKUTTA
|
RUPERT MOMIN
|
NPP
|
| MENDIPATHAR
|
MARTHON J SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| RESUBELPARA
|
TIMOTHY D. SHIRA
|
NPP
|
| BAJENGDOBA
|
PONGSENG MARAK
|
NPP
|
| SONGSAK
|
DR. MUKUL SANGMA
|
AITC
|
| RONGJENG
|
JIM M SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| WILLIAM NAGAR
|
MARCUISE N MARAK
|
NPP
|
| RAKSAMGRE
|
LIMISON D. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| TIKRIKILLA
|
JIMMY D. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| PHULBARI
|
ABU TAHER MONDAL
|
NPP
|
| RAJABALA
|
DR. MIZANUR RAHMAN KAZI
|
AITC
|
| SELSELLA
|
ARBINSTONE B MARAK
|
NPP
|
| DADENGGRE
|
RUPA M. MARAK
|
AITC
|
| NORTH TURA
|
THOMAS A. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| SOUTH TURA
|
CONRAD KONGKAL SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| RANGSAKONA
|
SUBIR MARAK
|
NPP
|
| AMPATI
|
MIANI D. SHIRA
|
AITC
|
| MAHENDRAGANJ
|
SANJAY A. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| SALMANPARA
|
IAN BOTHAM K. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| GAMBEGRE
|
SALENG A. SANGMA
|
INC
|
| DALU
|
BRENING A. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| RONGARA SIJU
|
RAKKAM A. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| CHOKPOT
|
SENGCHIM N. SANGMA
|
NPP
|
| BAGHMARA
|
KARTUSH R. MARAK
|
IND
|
FINAL TALLY
| Party
|
Win
|
| NPP
|
26
|
| UDP
|
11
|
| INC
|
5
|
| AITC
|
5
|
| VPP
|
4
|
| BJP
|
2
|
| HSPDP
|
2
|
| PDF
|
2
|
| IND
|
2
|
| TOTAL
|
59
|
TOP NAMES WHO LOST
Vincent H Pala (INC) (Sutnga Saipung)
James PK Sangma (NPP) (Dadenggre)
Mukul M Sangma (AITC) (Tikrikilla)
Himalaya M Shangpliang (BJP) (Mawsynram)
George B Lyngdoh (AITC) (Umroi)
Process T Sawkmie (UDP) (Mawlai)
Mohendro Rapsang (NPP) (West Shillong)
Hamletson Dohling (NPP) (Mylliem)
Bernard N Marak (BJP) (South Tura)
Dikkanchi D Shira (AITC) (Mahendraganj)
Zenith M Sangma (AITC) (Rangsakona)
HIGHEST MARGIN: Mawlai (15,648 votes)
LOWEST MARGIN: Rajabala (10 votes)