Meghalaya CM wins South Tura bypoll; party loses Ranikor to ally

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday he will do his best to take the state forward after he defeated his Congress challenger Charlotte W Momin in the by-election to the South Tura assembly seat.

“We are committed to the people of the state and I would reassure the people that after this particular victory that our commitment is even stronger now and we will do what it takes and we will work with all our commitment to take the state forward,” Sangma said while speaking to reporters.

“It has been a good election. People of Tura have really put their faith and trust...,” Conrad said thanking the people.

The National People’s Party (NPP) national president won the seat by securing 13,656 votes while Momin polled 5,235. The seat was held by the chief minister’s sister and former Union minister Agatha Sangma, who had vacated it so that he could enter the assembly.

With Monday’s victory, the ruling NPP has equalled its strength with the opposition Congress at 20 seats each in the 60-member assembly. The NPP heads a six-party Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the state.

Former South Tura MLA John Leslee Sangma could manage only 2,211 votes while the fourth contender Chris Kabul A Sangma mustered a measly 897 votes. The “None of the above” or NOTA option registered 218 votes.

The bypolls were held to two assembly seats in South Tura and Ranikor on August 23.

The bypoll outcome of Ranikor assembly constituency also went on expected lines as five-time Congress legislator Martin M Danggo, who quit the party to join the NPP in July, was ousted by first-timer Pius Marweiñ of the United Democratic Party, an ally of NPP.

At the end of the final round of counting, Marweiñ’s victory margin stood at 2,896. Marweiñ polled 13,183 votes while Danggo mustered 10,287 votes. Efforts by the Hindustan Times to reach him in remote Ranikor failed.

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