SHILLONG, Feb 18: The Nongspung-Sohiong constituency is set for a high-profile contest in the upcoming KHADC elections on February 21. Adding a twist to the battle is an interesting clash, as two cousins face off in the electoral arena.
The Congress has fielded Nathaniel Rymmai, son of former Home Minister Late HDR Lyngdoh, while the United Democratic Party (UDP) has nominated its sitting MLA, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, who is the nephew of the late Home Minister.
Other strong contenders include VPP candidate Banpyrkhat Nongrang and former MLA Samlin Malngiang, who is contesting on an NPP ticket. Also in the fray are HSPDP candidate Stodingstar Kharjana and Independent candidate Sony Kharjana.
A total of 32,151 voters will cast their ballots across 60 polling stations in Nongspung-Sohiong, including 16,460 female voters and 15,691 male voters.
The most talked-about aspect of this election is the contest between the two cousins.
Reports suggest that Thabah, the sitting UDP MLA, had not initially planned to contest. However, after Rymmai secured the Congress ticket, UDP supporters pressured Thabah to enter the fray. Eventually, he applied for the UDP nomination, along with four other aspirants.
Party supporters believe that Thabah, as the sitting MLA, is the best candidate to take on the NPP and VPP. Initially, Rymmai was considered the frontrunner for the UDP ticket. However, he unexpectedly left the party for personal reasons and decided to contest under the Congress banner.
Rymmai had supported VPP MPP Ricky AJ Syngkon from the Shillong parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Reports also indicate that he initially expressed interest in contesting from the VPP before ultimately approaching Congress for a ticket.
This is not Rymmai’s first election. He previously contested the 2016 by-election for the Nongspung-Sohiong seat but lost to former MLA Samlin Malngiang.
‘No family rift’
Despite the hype, both cousins have denied any family rift. Thabah stated that despite contesting against his cousin, there is no conflict within the family. He emphasised that democracy allows anyone to contest elections and dismissed speculation of a family dispute.
Following his father’s demise, Rymmai had supported Thabah’s candidacy in the 2023 Assembly elections. However, Rymmai now claims that his decision to run as a Congress candidate was based on public demand and his family’s long-standing association with the party. He also downplayed the rivalry with his cousin, asserting that in a democracy, anyone has the right to contest.
Political observers believe that the family split could benefit the NPP candidate.
The NPP has fielded Malngiang after its sitting MDC, Sherborlang Mawlong, opted out of the race. Malngiang will attempt to regain his foothold in the constituency, but he faces strong anti-NPP sentiment. Notably, he lost to UDP’s Thabah in the last election by a margin of 3,442 votes.
Meanwhile, VPP candidate Banpyrkhat Nongrang, who hails from Mawlaiteng, will rely on the party’s growing influence to boost his chances. Without the party’s wave in his favor, he faces a tough challenge against three seasoned contenders, especially as a newcomer to the political scene.
The areas under the Sohiong-Nongspung constituency fall within both the Mawphlang and Sohiong Assembly segments.
The VPP secured the majority of votes in both Mawphlang and Sohiong during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the Sohiong Assembly segment, 27,096 votes were cast, with VPP receiving 16,771, NPP 4,128, Congress 3,481, and UDP 1,972. In the Mawphlang segment, 28,609 votes were cast, with VPP securing 22,596, NPP 1,555, Congress 2,636, and UDP 1,123.
