CONSTITUENCY WATCH
SHILLONG, Feb 11: The Sohra constituency is gearing up for a triangular contest among former KHADC CEM and sitting UDP MDC Titosstarwell Chyne, VPP candidate John Wilson Thabah, and former MDC and NPP candidate Donevan Kharwanlang. A fourth contender in the fray is Congress candidate B. Virus Rymmai.
A survey among voters suggests that Chyne, the sitting UDP MDC, holds an edge in the contest, having worked consistently for the constituency’s development over the past five years. Chyne first represented Sohra as an MDC in 2009 and later served as an MLA from 2013 to 2018.
However, VPP candidate Thabah faces a setback due to his relatively low popularity in the constituency. Despite being a local resident of Mawsmai, Sohra, he is still a new face in the political landscape. A veteran journalist, Thabah is banking on the rising wave of support for the VPP during the recent Lok Sabha polls to boost his chances in the Sohra race.
Political analysts believe that NPP candidate Kharwanlang, a former MDC of the constituency, is also a strong contender. However, his prolonged absence from the constituency has been a significant disadvantage. He has only recently re-engaged with voters in the past two months in an attempt to regain his footing. Kharwanlang is hoping that the support of sitting Sohra MLA Gavin Miquel Mylliem will strengthen his bid.
Notably, Kharwanlang had defeated Chyne in the 2014 KHADC polls and previously held the position of Deputy Chairman of the KHADC.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate Rymmai, who also serves as the Secretary of Hima Sohra, could play the role of a spoiler in this contest. Congress maintains a vote bank of around 800 to 1,000 in the constituency, particularly in the Khatarshnong area, where Rymmai, as a local resident, is expected to draw significant support. In the last two Assembly elections (2018 and 2023), Khatarshnong remained a stronghold for the sitting Sohra NPP MLA.
On the other hand, Chyne’s stronghold in previous elections included core Sohra areas such as Mawkisyiem, Kutmadan, Saitsohpen, Sohra Khliehshnong, and Laitkynsew. Notably, in the 2023 Assembly elections, Chyne lost by a razor-thin margin of just 15 votes. The NPP candidate secured 11,358 votes, while Chyne received 11,343. The VPP candidate at the time, G Phaiyolin Nongrum, managed only 916 votes.
Despite this, political analysts believe that the VPP candidate could emerge as a surprise factor due to the party’s growing popularity, especially in the remote villages of the constituency. During the recent Lok Sabha elections, the VPP secured a sweeping victory in many areas under Sohra, particularly in Khatarshnong.
The VPP’s landslide win in the Shillong Parliamentary seat has put all candidates on alert. In the Lok Sabha polls, VPP garnered 16,267 votes in Sohra, while the NPP secured 2,439, the UDP 1,343, and Congress 2,562.
Meanwhile, a total of 24,746 voters — 12,802 women and 11,944 men — are set to cast their ballots in Sohra. It is also noteworthy that the Sohra constituency remains unaffected by the KHADC’s recent delimitation process.