The Congress on Thursday, 31 May, became the single-largest party in Meghalaya after its candidate, Miani D Shira, won the by-election from the Ampati Assembly seat, vacated by her father Mukul Sangma earlier this year.
After the Karnataka Assembly election fiasco, it is likely the Congress will stake claim to form the government, reported The Times of India.
INC candidate Miani D Shira won by 3,191 votes. She secured 14,259 votes against a total of 11,069 votes polled by NPP candidate Clement G Momin.Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor to PTI
He said the third candidate, an Independent, Subhankar Koch, secured just 360 votes.
The seat fell vacant after Shira's father and former chief minister Mukul Sangma, who won from two seats in the last Assembly elections, vacated the seat.
After the win, the Congress has 21 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, one MLA more than the NPP, which is leading the coalition government with the support of regional parties and the BJP.
Even in the assembly election in February, the Congress had become the single-largest party with NPP trailing close with 19 seats. However, when Mukul Sugma gave up one seat and NPP gained a seat after winning in Williamnagar bypoll – which was vacated after NCP candidate Jonathone Sangma was killed in a rebel attack – both the parties were brought to a tally of 20 seats each which was broken on Thursday with the Ampati win.
The regional parties – the United Democratic Party having seven MLAs, Peoples Democratic Front (4), HSPDP (2) and the BJP (2), besides an MLA each of the NCP and an Independent – are constituents of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
(With inputs from PTI)
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