The National People’s Party (NPP) victory in the adjourned Assembly election from Williamnagar constituency on Tuesday has not only increased its own tally from 19 to 20 in the Assembly, but also increased the strength of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government from 36 to 37 members.
The NPP bagged 19 seats in the February 27 Assembly polls, and the Congress got 21 seats. However the strength of the Congress came down to 20, after former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma resigned as MLA of Ampati on March 14, as he was also elected as the MLA of Songsak constituency.
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Led by the NPP which now has 20 MLAs, the MDA government is also supported by the United Democratic Party (6 including the Speaker), People’s Democratic Front (4), BJP (2), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (2), Nationalist Congress Party (1) and Independent (2).
The NPP won the adjourned Williamnagar Assembly election through former MLA, Marcuise N. Marak who secured 9,656 votes.
This is the second time that Marcuise was elected as MLA, first in 2008 as member of the eighth Assembly, and 2018 as member of the tenth Assembly.
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Marcuise’s win has also led to a tie between the NPP and Congress in terms of the number of MLAs, as both the parties now have 20 MLAs each in Assembly.
Former Education Minister and sitting Congress MLA, Deborah C. Marak who has been anticipated that she would not be defeated easily, came third and got 4,554 votes.
However it was Independent candidate, Sengbath R. Marak who outsmart Deborah and he came second securing 4,736 votes.
The election to Williamnagar constituency was to be held on February 27 along with other 59 constituencies, but it was adjourned following the killing of Jonathone N. Sangma (NCP candidate) in an IED blast allegedly planted by GNLA militants on February 18.
The NCP that fielded Jonathone’s wife, Krinilla R. Marak, came fourth and secured 4,040 votes, an indication that sympathy did not work much in her favour.
The BJP that failed to win from Garo Hills which has 24 Assembly seats, its candidate, Santosh R. Marak got just 870 votes.
Independent candidate, Lahatson N. Marak got 512 votes, while Mahamsing M. Sangma of the United Democratic Party (UDP) got 511 votes.
The other Independent candidates, Jan N. Arengh got 329 votes, while Siljong R. Marak got 233 votes, less than NOTA that got 279 votes.