Tura/Shillong, Mar 2: As the results were announced after every round of counting for the 11 constituencies in West Garo Hills, the numerous NPP supporters waiting outside the Social Mobilization Experimentation and Learning Centre at Dakopgre in Tura on Thursday cheered and raised slogans. Their day was made because the party won 26 seats, including 18 in Garo Hills.
By 10 am, the road outside the counting centre was chock-a-bloc as NPP supporters had taken over the footpaths. By then Conrad Sangma was leading in South Tura by a wafer-thin margin and James Sangma was trailing Trinamool Congress’s Rupa Marak in Dadenggre. As the counting proceeded, apprehensions gave way to joy, and there was more than one reason for this.
The NPP’s win, especially in Garo Hills, was a turn of events amid a palpable anti-NPP wave. Now, the party has emerged as the single largest in the state but it is still short of the magic number of 31. With two MLAs, BJP has already extended support to NPP.
However, a blow is the defeat of James Sangma in Dadenggre. James later told Meghalaya Monitor that this would a time for him to introspect and look into the reasons for the people’s mandate against him.
The worst affected was the AITC as its Garo Hills face Mukul Sangma, who contested two seats- one unsuccessfully, could not ensure the victory of his wife Dikkanchi Shira and brother Zenith Sangma compared to 2013 and 2018. The party got only 4 seats in Garo Hills and one in Nongthymmai.
BJP was hopeful that it will secure more seats in Garo Hills but in vain though the Dalu candidate fought well before giving way to sitting MLA Brening Sangma.
VPP springs surprise
VPP led by Ardent Basaiawmoit secured four seats and the biggest gain was in Mawlai.
The promise of clean politics has attracted atleast some sections of people..
As ar as Congress is concerned, it contested without any MLA and secured five seats after the MLAs had deserted the party.
