SHILLONG, March 8: The results of the 11th Assembly election of Meghalaya reveal that NPP has enhanced its vote share from 20.6% in 2018 to 33.78% this time, while benefiting out of the three-way split in rival votes among TMC, BJP and Congress.
A notable aspect of this election is the slump of Congress vote share from 28.5% in 2018 to 13.31% this time. The major beneficiary of Congress slide down is TMC which garnered 16.90%, thanks to Mukul Sangma’s own clout.
TMC, BJP and Congress collectively polled over 50% of votes, as against NPP’s 33.78%.
In terms of aggregate votes garnered, NPP stood at the top with 5.05 lakh votes, as against 3.33 lakh votes five years ago.
Overall, UDP secured second position with 2.99 lakh votes as against 1.83 lakh votes it managed in 2018.
The newbie TMC obtained 2.52 lakh votes which is a whopping improvement over last time’s measly 5,544 votes! Even though NPP has bagged 26 seats, there are at least six constituencies where it lost by whiskers.
In Amlarem, NPP candidate lost by 57 votes, Rajabala by 10 votes, Dadenggre by 18 votes, Mylliem by 192 votes, Shella by 434 votes, Songsak by 507 votes.
UDP which has increased its seat share from 6 to 11, the party lost four seats quite narrowly. In Sohra, party nominee lost by 15 votes, Umsning by 164 votes, Nongthymmai and Mawryngkneng by 1,200 and 1,142 votes respectively.
Perhaps this time around, both BJP and TMC have flattered to deceive.
With a high profile campaign by BJP, the party was expecting to win 6-8 seats. The fact that it remained stuck at two seats tells its own story.
Of the 1.72 lakh votes garnered by the saffron party, which is a marginal improvement over last time’s tally of 1.52 lakh, bulk of it has come from the constituencies where non-tribals are predominant voters.
In Garo Hills, the BJP has obtained nearly 91,000 votes, mostly in constituencies like Dalu, Mahendraganj, Ampati, South Tura, North Tura, and Raksamgre, having mixed population or by dint of candidates’ own popularity.
Nearly 38,000 votes the BJP polled in Shillong’s six constituencies where non-tribals have a significant presence. West Shillong (party polled 3,771 votes), South Shillong (14,213), North Shillong (4,550), Pynthorumkhrah (9,321), East Shillong (2,643) and Nongthymmai (3,274) are a case in point.
At least in 16 rural constituencies the party forfeited security deposit; this is evidence that BJP is largely unable to sell itself among the tribal voters.
TMC, which fancied the idea of capturing the imagination of voters against MDA’s blemishes and BJP’s “anti-Christian” agenda, will be demoralised by the eventual outcome with five seats under its belt, four from Garo Hills where it polled nearly 2 lakh votes. The party will take heart from the fact it stood second in nine constituencies — Resubelpara, Kharkutta, Phulbari, Tikrikilla, Selsella, Rangsakona, Mahendraganj, Salmanpara and Gambegre.
In Khasi-Jaintia Hills, including Ri-Bhoi, TMC performed reasonably well in two seats — Jowai and Umroi where its nominees stood second. TMC candidates lost security deposit in as many as 13 seats — mostly in the rural areas.
Congress which suffered due to desertion of all its MLAs, polled nearly 2 lakh votes overall, against 4.52 lakh votes in 2018. The party’s vote share has sunk from 28.5% to 13.31%.
Congress picked up “silver medal” in 10 constituencies — Nartiang, Sutnga-Saipung, Nongpoh, Jirang, East Shillong, Bajengdoba, Mawkyrwat, Mendipathar, Williamnagar and Rongara-Siju.
