Shillong:Meghalaya seems headed to a hung Assembly, with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) on course to finishing as the single largest party over four hours into the counting for the 60-member House on Thursday.
The NPP has bagged the only five seat declared so far and is leading in 24 other constituencies, while the United Democratic Party has forged ahead in eight and the BJP is occupying pole position in five constituencies with trends and results available for 57 of the 59 seats in the North Eastern state, known for its scenic beauty.
The election in the Sohiong constituency has been adjourned following the death of former Home Minister and United Democratic Party candidate, Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh.
Chief Minister and NPP national supremo, Conrad Sangma is leading by a huge margin of 2,830 votes to his nearest rival of the BJP Bernard Marak in South Tura seat.
However, the Chief Minister’s brother and senior NPP minister, James Sangma lost his Dadenggre assembly seat by a slim margin of just 7 votes to Trinamool Congress (TMC) nominee Rupa Marak.
Interestingly, the TMC and the Voice of the People Party (VPP), which are contesting the assembly elections for the first time, have won in three seats each.
The Congress, which had finished as the single largest party in the previous election held five years back, won the Mawkyrwat assembly constituency and leading in three other seats.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president and sitting Lok Sabha member, Vincent Pala lost on his home turf Sutnga-Saipung to NPP’s Santa Mary Shylla by 2,019 votes. Shylla polled 15,414 votes against Pala’s 13,395 votes.
All 21 Congress legislators elected in 2018 had crossed over to other parties in the intervening years. The TMC was virtually born out of deserters form the Congress.
The People’s Democratic Front aspirants were towering over their rivals in two seats, while three independents are also leading
Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice president, Prestone Tynsong is leading by over 4000 votes over his nearest rival United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate, Anthony Justine Kongwang
in the Pynursla assembly seat.
UDP president and incumbent Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh is leading by a slender margin against Congress’ candidate, Batskhem Ryntathiang in Mairang assembly seat. UDP was an ally in the outgoing NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
Another UDP candidate and Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla is leading by a big margin of 3432 votes against NPP heavyweight Nehlang Lyngdoh from Khliehriat assembly constituency.
For the BJP, incumbent Labour minister Sanbor Shullai is all set to retain his Shillong South seat for the third consecutive term, while senior BJP leader Alexander Laloo Hek is also leading by 570 votes.
Trinamool Congress state President Charles Pyngrope is leading against UDP candidate Jemino Mawthoh by 397 votes.
Former Chief Minister and TMC leader Dr Mukul Sangma, in the fray from two seats, is leading by a slender margin of 77 votes in Songsak, but trailing by a huge margin of 3,719 votes in Tikrikilla.
