Editor,
After analyzing the data of the election to the 18th Lok Sabha from 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency, it is observed that the Voice of the Peoples’ Party (VPP) made inroads into UDP’s bastion and garnered 45.42% of the voters of the said party, 27.35% of NPP’s votes, 7.8% of INC’s and 1.36% from other parties. In absolute terms VPP got 2,59,378 votes from UDP’s pocket, 1,56,209 from NPP, 44,511 from INC and 7,795 from other parties. The data in respect of Shillong shows that the VPP got 20,816 of the UDP, 7,221 of INC and 5,924 of the NPP’s votes in the city. This is not a “historic” election but a “weird” one where VPP increased its vote share by 14,000% in Jaintia Hills when compared with what the party got in the 2023 Legislative Assembly election, 1,150% in Ri Bhoi, 191% in East Khasi Hills, 1,126% in West Khasi Hills, 3,026% in South West Khasi Hills and 4,410% in Eastern West Khasi Hills. Overall in 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency the VPP’s vote share went up by 462 Percent when compared with what it got in the 2023 Legislative Assembly election. In Mawlai it increased by 24%, Mawryngkneng by 106%, North Shillong 39% and Nongkrem by 35% respectively over the last Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election in 2023.
Another interesting data set is the performance of the Indian National Congress and the United Democratic Party in the 17th and 18th Lok Sabha. From the data set of the Lok Sabha election held in 2019 and 2024 as posted on the portal of the Election Commission of India, an analysis of the results of these two data sets of the Lok Sabha elections it is found that the support base of Indian National Congress (INC) has substantially eroded in the 18th Lok Sabha when compared with the 17th Lok Sabha and is to the tune of 52.76% in 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency. It eroded 108.36% in Jaintia region, 69.66% in Ri Bhoi, 149.88% in East Khasi Hills, 246.06% in Eastern West Khasi Hills, 49.37% in West Khasi Hills and 112.14% in South West Khasi Hills. In the case of the United Democratic Party (UDP), it is found that its support base has been drastically reduced to the tune of 83.41% in 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency. In the Jaintia region the support base eroded by 726.5% and by 887% in Ri Bhoi, 777% in East Khasi Hills, 110% in Eastern West Khasi Hills, 1059% in West Khasi Hills and 88.4% in South West Khasi Hills when compared with the result of the 17th Lok Sabha from 1 Shillong Parliamentary constituency.
Late Brington Buhai Lyngdoh a veteran politician of Meghalaya was once asked “Balei u paidbah u shongshit election?” (Why is the public ebullient during elections? ) He swiftly replied, “Ba ka dei ka election” (Because it is an election!) Electors of 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency will have to wait and watch how things pan out in five years’ time especially with regard to socio-economic development of the State at a time when the Member of Parliament of 1 Shillong Parliamentary Constituency is not affiliated to any political party of the country. It is an open book that the Member of Parliament who was sent thrice to the Lok Sabha from 1 Shillong Parliamentary constituency had wasted precious 15 years doing nothing. I wish the current Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha well and hope that he would take initiatives and facilitate in bringing about important infrastructure projects in the State.
Yours etc:,
VK Lyngdoh
Via email
Documents stolen from a car
Editor
Today Near ICICI Bank, Opposite to Secretariat Building, I had parked my car and gone for a walk for half an hour or so. I returned to my car at around 8:30 am only to find that the front left car window had been smashed into bits and my office bag which contained LIC policy documents and a few cheques had been stolen. Thankfully my wallet and mobile were with me. I have filed an FIR at the Sardar Thana, Shillong and the police have been very cooperative.
Since the bag did not contain anything valuable for the miscreants, according to the police they might discard the documents or the entire bag somewhere. Hence if anyone finds a dark brown bag with the LIC logo anywhere, please let me know. As mentioned, that bag contained very important documents of mine. My contact details are 9436101247, 8787765471. Today Near ICICI Bank, Opposite to Secretariat Building, I had parked my car and gone for a walk for half an hour or so. I return to my car at around 8:30 only to realise the front left car window has been smashed into bits and my Office Bag which contained LIC policy documents and a few cheques have been stolen. Thankfully my wallet and mobile were with me. I have filed an FIR in Sardar Thana, Shillong and the police have been very cooperative.
Since the bag did not contain anything valuable to the miscreants, according to the police they might discard the documents or the entire bag anywhere. If anyone finds a dark brown bag with the LIC logo anywhere, please let me know. As mentioned, that bag contained very important documents of mine. Contact details- 9436101247, 8787765471
This is also a reminder to not leave your car with valuables inside, and if you have to, keep the things in your boot space. Please be extremely cautious as this is becoming very rampant in Shillong.
Yours etc.,
Samudra Gupta,
Via email