CONSTITUENCY WATCH
MAWKYRWAT, Feb 17: The Mawkyrwat constituency in South West Khasi Hills is set for a fierce four-way contest in the upcoming KHADC polls, with key contenders including UDP candidate Jeslanroy Nongsiej, NPP candidate and sitting MDC Carness Sohshang, Congress candidate Medalsing Lyngdoh, and VPP candidate Pynkhrawboklin Kharjahrin.
Other candidates in the fray include Polanding Sohphoh of the HSPDP and Baristarpoul Thyrniang of the KHNAM. While most candidates have actively campaigned across the constituency, Thyrniang of KHNAM has maintained a relatively low profile.
UDP’s Jeslanroy Nongsiej, backed by local MLA and former PHE Minister Renikton L. Tongkhar, is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in local politics. Despite facing a setback when aspirant candidate Polanding Sohphoh left the UDP to join the HSPDP, Nongsiej remains a strong contender, relying on his popularity and the support of the local MLA.
NPP candidate and sitting MDC Carness Sohshang, who won the last election on a Congress ticket before switching to the NPP, is also a formidable contender. Over the past five years, he has actively served the constituency. However, it remains uncertain whether he can persuade all his supporters to follow him to the NPP, even though most of his key leaders have already joined the party.
Congress candidate Medalsing Lyngdoh, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly elections on an HSPDP ticket and secured over 6,000 votes, is also a strong challenger. With Mawkyrwat known as a Congress stronghold, Lyngdoh is banking on the party’s traditional vote bank to secure victory.
Political analysts believe that if the Congress retains most of its supporters, Lyngdoh stands a strong chance of winning, which would directly impact Sohshang’s prospects. However, if Sohshang and his team can sway Congress voters toward the NPP, it could significantly affect Lyngdoh’s chances.
Meanwhile, VPP candidate Pynkhrawboklin Kharjahrin, though a resident of Mawkyrwat, is relatively new to politics and is relying solely on his party’s growing popularity. Analysts are uncertain about the VPP’s performance in the MDC polls, but they note that even if the party’s vote share from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections drops by 40%, it could still remain competitive.
If the VPP replicates its 2024 Lok Sabha success — where it secured 20,210 votes out of 30,346 total votes in Mawkyrwat — it could pose a serious challenge to all other candidates.
A total of 39,525 voters, including 19,904 women and 19,621 men, are set to cast their ballots in Mawkyrwat constituency.