Tura, Nov 23:The first pages of the book have opened for the NPP in Gambegre as the ruling party won a decisive victory snatching the constituency from the clutches of the opposition well after sixteen long years.
The wife of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and NPP candidate Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma trounced her nearest rival from the opposition Trinamool Congress, Sadhiarani M Sangma, by a clear margin of 4594 votes, after securing a mammoth total of 12,678 votes.
The Congress, which previously hadn’t faced defeat in Gambegre was left clinging to the third position as its candidate Jingjang Marak managed to bag only 7695 votes, a far cry from its 11,252 votes that was secured in the 2023 assembly elections.
One of the most backward constituencies neighboring Tura, the NPP was quick to raise the “development” plank to the voters of Gambegre when campaigning began shortly after a sitting Congress legislator vacated his seat after emerging victorious in the Lok Sabha elections, in June this year.
“The message was loud and clear today. The people voted for change. People have voted for development, and we as a party and our leadership have always been promoting this. The whole of Garo Hills and Meghalaya is experiencing that (development) right now with NPP at the government and we will continue to ensure we give the best to the people,” a delighted and victorious Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma told The Meghalayan Express outside the counting hall after the declaration of results. This was her maiden foray into politics.
From the onset of the four rounds of counting, it was evident that the battle for supremacy was pitted between the two women candidates- Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma (NPP) and Sadhiarani Sangma (TMC).
Barring the Congress candidate, Jingjang Marak, none of the other three candidates in the fray could give any political tremor to the outcome of the results. The BJP’s Bernard Marak- a sitting GHADC MDC representing Tura seat, did not even touch the one thousand mark securing a meagre 710 votes. Two Independents were left biting the dust as voters gave a thumbs down to Jerry A Sangma (706 votes) and Sengkrabirth Marak (147 votes). NOTA obtained 95 votes and three postal ballots were found invalid.
