SHILLONG/MAWKYRWAT, March 2: Assembly elections results were declared on Thursday and surprises were in abundance in the Khasi Hills region where big names from some of the constituencies bit the dust while new entrant VPP sprang a surprise winning 4 seats in its very first stint at elections as a party. In urban areas, VPP bagged two seats — Mawlai and North Shillong. Besides these, it secured wins in Mawryngkneng and Nongkrem.
HM Shangpliang, Hamletson Dohling, George B Lyngdoh and Kimfa Marbaniang were among some of the big guns in the Khasi Hills region as well as Ri-Bhoi who lost their respective contests. Even UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh faced a stiff competition in Mairang but emerged victorious. VPP’s young candidate gave a tough fight to heavyweights such as Ronnie V Lyngdoh and Hamletson Dohling in Mylliem but failed to effect an upset.
Other sitting MLAs such as Prestone Tynsong, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and others also fought a neck-and-neck fight against lesser known faces but ultimately sailed through.
The TMC, which is taking five seats in its kitty, bagged one seat in the Khasi Hills region although it was expected of the party to end on a high in Umroi and Jowai. TMC’s State president Charles Pyngrope retained his seat in Nongthymmai.
Pyngrope has hailed the performance of his party.
“Being the first time and being a party which never entered the state (politics), I would say it’s a pretty good effort,” the TMC State president said. He claimed that the results show people have some faith and confidence in the TMC.
BJP, meanwhile, won two seats — Pynthorumkhrah (AL Hek) and South Shillong (Sanbor Shullai).
The UDP scripted history on Thursday in South West Khasi Hills by winning both Mawkyrwat and Ranikor seats. In Mawkyrwat, UDP’s Renikton L Tongkhar defeated archrival and Congress candidate Carness Sohshang by 1,272 votes after securing 10,678 votes. Sohshang polled 9,406 votes.
In Ranikor, UDP’s Pius Marwein retained the seat after defeating his rival Martin M Danggo of the BJP by a margin of 5,649 votes. Marwein received 16,502 votes while Danggo got 10,853 votes. The two UDP leaders are upbeat about ushering in a new wave of development in their respective constituencies.
NPP betters tally in JH this year
The NPP has managed to improve its tally by winning one more seat as against the 2018 Assembly polls.
This year, the NPP managed to retain Jowai, Raliang and Nartiang seats, and, at the same time, bagged the Sutnga-Saipung seat.
The four NPP candidates who won this year include Sniawbhalang Dhar from Nartiang, Comingone Ymbon from Raliang, Wailadmiki Shylla from Jowai and Santa Mary Shylla from Sutnga-Saipung.
Santa Mary Shylla was successful in defeating Shillong MP Vincent H. Pala, who is trying to make an entry into state politics, on his home turf.
On the other hand, Wailadmiki Shylla was successful in retaining his seat despite the anti-incumbency factor against him.
It is pertinent to note that the UDP has also been successful in retaining three seats in Jaintia Hills, viz. Amlarem, Khliehriat and Mookaiaw.
While Lahkmen Rymbui won from Amlarem, Kyrmen Shylla and Nujorki Sungoh won the Khliehriat and Mookaiaw seats respectively.
Interestingly, it was reported that Rymbui had even walked out of the counting centre after he was trailing behind NPP’s Stephanson Mukhim.
Rymbui, however, secured a victory by a narrow margin of 57 votes after the ballot votes were counted.