Led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Congress today emerged as the single largest party, two shy of getting the absolute majority, but nonetheless was the party’s best performance ever in Meghalaya Assembly elections.
With a total of 29 seats, the Congress is two short from getting the absolute majority in the 60-seat Assembly, but has little to worry with a record 13 Independents winning the elections and some of these candidates would definitely provide the extra cushion in forming the new Government. The Congress has never crossed the 25 seat mark ever since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972.
In this Congress victory, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma led from the front winning for the fifth consecutive term from Ampati constituency with the largest victory margin from amongst the 60 candidates with 9096 votes polled in his favour and would be a strong contender for the CM's post. Sangma’s wife, Dikkanchi D Shira, moreover, won from Mahendraganj and his brother Zenith Sangma from Rangsakona constituency in Garo Hills.
Similarly, most ministers belonging to the Congress won the elections. Prominent amongst these include: former chief ministers DD Lapang (Nongpoh) and Salseng C Marak (Resubelpara), Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh (Sohiong), Education Minister, RC Laloo (Jowai), Forest and environment minister, Prestone Tyngsong (Pynursla), Water resources minister, AL Hek (Pynthormukhrah) and Information and Technology minister, AT Mondol from Phulbari constituency.
“The people have responded to the Congress party for our good governance and development,” a jubilant Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma said.
The regional parties, especially Purno Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP), was routed in Garo Hills able to get just two seats – a sharp drop from the 2008’s tally of 15 seats. Only Purno Sangma’s son, James Sangma and Nihim D Shira won from the NPP in the Garo Hills region.
In this bargain, the leader of opposition, Conrad Sangma from the NPP lost from Selsella Constituency against rival Congress candidate Clement Marak by 2000 votes. “This is the people’s mandate and we accept it,” Conrad Sangma, another son of Purno Sangma, said after his election defeat.
The other regional party United Democratic Party (UDP) and an ally of the Congress party in the Government didn’t fare well either from its traditional stronghold in Khasi-Jaintia Hills belt, winning just eight seats. In 2008 elections the party won 11 seats.
Even UDP working president and deputy Chief Minister lost against Congress legislator and Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh from East Shillong constituency by 5084 votes.
“The result is shocking and unbelievable. The result is beyond our expectations as we were hoping for at least 15 seats,” former Chief Minister and UDP president Chief Donkupar Roy said, who himself won narrowly by 455 votes from Shella constituency.
However, another regional party the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) won four seats, increasing its tally from 2008 elections by two seats. HSPDP president and senior politician Hopinstone Lyngdoh retained the Nongstoin seat for the eighth consecutive term. The Nationalist Congress Party won two seats, Garo National Council and North East Social Democratic Party one seats respectively.
The Congress, meanwhile, suffered a major setback in Nongthymmai constituency where Speaker of the Assembly, Charles Pyngrope lost to UDP candidate Jemino Mawthoh by 1137 votes. Moreover, PHE minister Shitlang Pale lost in Sutgna-Saipung constituency against Independent candidate, Hopeful Bamon by 1462 votes.
Similarly, UDP candidate and Minister for social welfare, JA Lyngdoh lost to Congress candidate Kennedy C Khyriem from Mawphlang seat by 3344 votes.
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