From Saurav Borah
NONGPOH, March 2: The honours were even in the five constituencies of Ri Bhoi district among the NPP and Congress candidates, who bagged two seats each, with regional party UDP taking the fifth seat.
Two sitting MLAs, NPP’s Sosthenes Sohtun of Jirang Legislative Assembly Constituency and Mayralborn Syiem of Nongpoh Legislative Assembly constituency retained their seats, with the latter contesting from UDP this time, and not on a Congress ticket like in 2018.
Sohtun, who bagged 12690 votes, defeated 29-year-old Adrian C Mylliem of Congress (11067) by 1623 votes, a relatively comfortable margin when compared to the slender 220-vote victory over Congress’ Witness Day Sancley back in 2018.
“I will look forward to maximum development of my constituency and fulfill the promises as laid down in the party’s election manifesto in the coming term,” a victorious Sohtun told mediapersons in front of the district electoral officer’s office here after the final round of counting. After casting his vote at Byrnihat last Monday, the Jirang MLA had expressed confidence of retaining the key border seat claiming that the people of the constituency were happy with the development work done during his term even as close to two years have been affected by the pandemic.
On the other hand, Mayralborn, 44, who bagged as many as 14,940 votes, secured a thumping 6686-vote victory over Rona Kymdeit of Congress, who bagged 8254 votes.
Later, speaking to The Shillong Times, Mayralborn thanked the people of Nongpoh for reposing faith in him and that he wishes to complete many unfinished tasks of the previous term in the coming five-year term.
The Mawhati seat was clinched by Charles Marngar of Congress, who bagged 13273 to get the better of Shemphang Lyngdoh of NPP (who bagged 8029 votes) by a big margin of 5244 votes.
For that matter, Marngar had gained the lead from the second round of counting and never looked back as he gained ascendancy in the subsequent rounds.
The youngest candidate among all contestants from Ri Bhoi district, 26-year-old Damanbait Lamare of NPP (who bagged 13943 votes) turned the tables on sitting MLA of Umroi, George B Lyngdoh of TMC (who bagged 12311 votes), by a decent margin of 1632
In Umsning, the story was one of a comeback, after 51-year-old Celestine Lyngdoh (Congress) who had last time lost to a much younger candidate (Jason S Mawlong), bagged 9907 votes this time to defeat 31-year-old Sunshine Makri of UDP by 1164 votes.
The otherwise quiet Nongpoh town witnessed a festive ambience throughout the counting day as thousands of people from all the five constituencies under Ri Bhoi district assembled here in the morning to cheer for their parties and the candidates representing them.
There was music and dance, as young supporters came on mini trucks to celebrate the occasion with their victorious candidates.
The large gathering on the highway created traffic congestion as vehicles, both commercial and private, moved slowly on either side to pass by.
Once the victory was announced, the supporters of NPP, Congress and UDP, who had come from the respective constituencies, escorted their candidates to their home turf, where the latter were garlanded, hugged and greeted with bouquets.a
