Shillong: The ruling National People's Party wrested the Williamnagar Assembly seat from the Opposition Congress by a huge margin on Tuesday.
The NPP's Marcuise N. Marak made a return to the Meghalaya Assembly by securing 9,656 votes. His rival, Sengbath R. Marak, an Independent nominee who was earlier with the Congress, polled 4,736 votes.
Former minister Deborah C. Marak of the Congress, who earlier represented the seat from 2013 to 2018, came a distant third by polling 4,554 votes. Deborah had represented the seat in 1998 and 2003.
Sources said perhaps a division in the Congress vote bank aided the NPP to secure the seat by 4,920 votes. A total of 25,720 of 32,345 votes were polled.
The result of this deferred election has increased the NPP's tally in the current 10th Assembly to 20. The Opposition Congress also has an equal number of legislators in a House of 60, but with an effective strength of 59.
The Ampati bypoll, which was necessitated by the resignation of former chief minister Mukul Sangma after he retained Songsak Assembly constituency, will be held on May 28.
The United Democratic Party has six legislators, People's Democratic Front four, BJP and the Hill State People's Democratic Party two each, Nationalist Congress Party and the KHNAM one each, and three Independents.
The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance led by the NPP comprises UDP, PDF, HSPDP, BJP, NCP, and two Independents. The KHNAM and one Independent MLA are neither with the ruling nor with the Opposition camp.
The Williamnagar election was deferred following the death of NCP candidate Jonathone N. Sangma on February 18 when alleged GNLA militants triggered an IED blast where the young political aspirant was killed.
Jonathone's widow, Krinilla R. Marak, who was set up by the NCP came fourth with 4,040 votes.
An ecstatic chief minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated and thanked the people of Williamnagar for having faith in the party candidate and the party.
"On this occasion, as we celebrate the victory of NPP and our candidate Marcuise Marak, I would like to thank God for being with us in our journey and mission to create a new Meghalaya," he said in a statement.
Speaking to this correspondent over phone, Marcuise, when asked about the factors responsible for his victory, said, "People are happy with Conrad Sangma's leadership, and the NPP's ability to form the government helped us. As a candidate, I am also closer to the people."
Marcuise was first elected to the Meghalaya Assembly in 2008 as an NCP candidate when he defeated Deborah. However, five years later Deborah defeated him, and he was relegated to the third position. On Tuesday, the results were the other way round.
