Clean sweep for MDA in by-polls: NPP wins two, UDP one
The results came as a major setback for the opposition Congress as it failed to retain it’s supposed strongholds - the Mawryngkneng and Rajabala seats – and, also lost in the Mawphlang constituency.
With the National People’s Party (NPP) sweeping the Mawryngkneng and Rajabala seats and its main ally, the United Democratic Party (UDP) claiming the Mawphlang constituency, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) registered at a thumping victory in the Meghalaya bye-polls, on November 2.
The results came as a major setback for the opposition Congress as it failed to retain it’s supposed strongholds - the Mawryngkneng and Rajabala seats – and, also lost in the Mawphlang constituency.
While sitting Member of District Council (MDC) of Sohryngkham and NPP candidate Pyniaid Sing Syiem won the Mawryngkneng seat defeating his closest rival, Highlander Kharmalki of the Congress by a margin of 1,816 votes, in the Rajabala seat, NPP candidate Abdus Saleh defeated Congress’ Hashina Yasmin Mondal by a margin of 1,926 votes.
In Mawphlang, Congress candidate Kennedy C Khyriem was no match for UDP’s Eugeneson Lyngdoh, as the football star won the seat by a margin of 4,401 votes. Syiem, who is also the Chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), secured a total of 14,177 votes as against Kharmalki, who, despite being backed by senior Congress leader, Charles Pyngrope, father of the former MLA (L) David A Nongrum, could only manage 12,361 votes, in the Mawryngkneng bye-poll. While Saleh secured 11,823 votes in the Rajabala seat, Mondal could secure only 9,897 votes.
The results was also a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its candidate Kingstone B Marak forfeited his security deposit in the Rajabala by-poll by getting only 333 votes.
In Mawphlang, Eugeneson retained the seat which his father (L) SK Sunn held for three and a half years by getting 13,285 votes. Khyriem, who is also a former Mawphlang MLA, could only muster 8,884 votes.
The three independent candidates who contested the Mawryngkneng seat include Norbert Marboh (1,400 votes) Esron Marwein (485 votes) and Arbiangkam Kharsohmat (214 votes), while 238 voted for NOTA.
Two hundred and two voted for NOTA in Mawphlang, while 174 voters pressed the NOTA button in Rajabala. The overall poll percentage for the three constituencies was recorded at 83.45 per cent, polling day October 30.
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