SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly polls witnessed major comebacks with Paul Lyngdoh and Ardent Miller Basaïawmoit returning to the Assembly.
The old guards were greeted by their supporters, who were overjoyed at their win. Lyngdoh was an elected member in 2003, 2008, and 2013, and Basaïawmoit won in 2008 and 2013. Both had lost the 2018 elections.
Lyngdoh is from the United Democratic Party (UDP), while Basaïawmoit is from the newly established Voice of the People Party (VPP), which won four seats.
The other former legislators who returned were Congress’ Celestine Lyngdoh, Gabriel Wahlang from Nongstoiñ andNational People’s Party’s (NPP) Abu Taher Mondal.
It may be mentioned that People’s Democratic Front (PDF) won four seats when it contested the 2018 elections, but lost two legislators this year.
Despite massive rallying by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bigwigs, BJP retained its two strongholds – South Shillong and Pynthorbah – and failed to win any constituency in the state.
Some of the young turks entering the assembly are NPP’s Santa Mary Shylla (Sutnga-Saipung), Congress’ Charles Marngar (Mawhati), NPP’s Damanbait Lamare (Umroi), VPP’s Heaving Stone Kharpran (Mawryngkneng), VPP’s Brightstarwell Marbaniang (Mawlai), UDP’s Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah (Mawphlang), UDP’s Ollan Singh Suiñ (Mawsynram), HSPDP’s Shakliar Warjri (Mawthadraishan), Independent Remington Gabil Momin (RambraiJyrngam), HSPDP’s Methodius Dkhar (Mawshynrut), Independent Kartush R Marak (Baghmara), NPP’s Sengchim N Sangma (Chokpot), NPP’s Brening A Sangma (Dalu), NPP’s Ian Botham K Sangma (Salmanpara), NPP’s Sanjay A Sangma (Mahendraganj), AITC’s Rupa M Marak (Dadenggre), NPP’s Subir Marak (Rangsakona) and NPP’s Arbinstone B Marak (Selsella).