Shillong, Feb 24: The regional Voice of the People Party (VPP) has won a surprising victory with a majority in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council bagging 17 seats out of the 29 constituencies that went to polls, but failed to impress in the Jaintia Hills where the ruling NPP pipped them to the finish line.
Contesting the KHADC elections for the very first time, the VPP won 17 seats, the UDP 5 seats, NPP 4 seats, HSPDP 1 seat and two Independents. The two big national parties- BJP and Congress, failed to win a single seat in the Khasi Hills region.
Although no party secured a clear majority in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (15 being the required number), the NPP was the single largest party having won 13 seats, while arch rivals VPP came second with 8 seats.
There are 3 Congress MDCs elected, three from the UDP and two independents who are expected to align with the NPP in formation of the next Executive Committee in the JHADC. The BJP and HSPDP drew a blank in the Jaintia Hills elections.
The biggest newsmaker of the day was clearly the election results in the Khasi Hills region where the VPP, consolidating on its MP election victory in 2024, made massive inroads into the bastions of all parties.
In the Nongthymmai seat, the sitting CEM of KHADC and NPP leader Pyniaidsing Syiem lost to the VPP’s Winstone Tony Lyngdoh by 3832 votes.
Even former Dy CEM and congress leader Pynshngainlang Syiem was defeated in Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah by the VPP’s Strongpillar Kharjana by 2540 votes.
The VPP also snatched victory in Laitumkhrah-Malki seat, a bastion of the family of sitting NPP Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh. The VPP’s Deity H Majaw defeated her nearest rival Manuel Badwar by 819 votes.
In Rambrai Jyrngam constituency, Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang, who defected from the Congress and joined the NPP was defeated by an Independent Lurshai Kharbani by 2142 votes.
Among the notable faces who managed to hold on to their seats in this election were Pius Marwein of the UDP in Langrin constituency who defeated Mandilost Nongbri of the NPP by 2899 votes and Alvin Khyriem Sawkmie of the NPP in Mawsynram who defeated Rusievan Shangpliang of the VPP by 5035 votes.
Other notable winners were Sosthenes Sohtun in Jirang seat- he defeated Victor Ranee of the Congress by 7832 votes, Rona Khymdeit of the NPP who defeated Balajied Ranee of the UDP by 3644 votes in Nongpoh, and Grace Mary Kharpuri of the NPP in Nongshken seat. She defeated Manbhalang Thabah of the VPPby 3313 votes.
The highest vote taker in this election came from Mawlai constituency where Eddieson Kharumnuid of the VPP secured a whooping 22619 votes against nearest rival Teiborlang Pathaw (Independent) who got 10272 votes- the highest margin of 12347 votes.
Another constituency which witnessed a huge vote share for the VPP was in Mylliem seat where Aibandaplin F Lyngdoh of the VPP (17451 votes) defeated Fineststar Kharkongor of the NPP (6226 votes) by another record margin of 11225 votes.
The VPP is set to form the next EC in the KHADC and all eyes will be on whom it chooses to be the new CEM.
In the JHADC, eyes will be on the NPP (13 seats) and whom it allies with in forming the new EC. The UDP with 3 MDCs is already a coalition partner in the current state government, while the Congress with 3 new MDCs could also join the NPP led EC in Jaintia Hills- the Congress was part of the last NPP led EC in the KHADC. Between the NPP’s 13, UDP and Congress 3 each and 2 Independents there is every likelihood that these parties could come together to keep the VPP out of any power contention.
