Prominent Losers and comeback players

SHILLONG, March 3: Many big mes from all the major political parties that contested the just concluded Assembly polls have bite the dust. Prominent is the five time MLA and senior Congress legislator Salseng Marak  from Resubelapra  and Rowell Lyngdoh(NPP) who held the post of Deputy Chief Minister till early last year.  Four time MLA (Sohiong) and Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh and Minister of Urban Affairs Ronnie Lyngdoh (Mylliem) also had to eat humble pie in a multiple contest.  People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Chief Ministerial candidate Pynshangain nda Syiem was also humilitated in his own bastion (Mawsynram).

The other prominent losers include two working presidents of the United Democratic Party (UDP) mely Paul Lyngdoh from Shillong West and Bindo M Lanong from Shillong East, besides his legislator colleague, Jemino Mawthoh who lost from Nonthymai constituency. Hill State People’s Democratic party (HSPDP) candidate Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also faced similar fate from Nongkrem besides three of his three of his sitting colleques: Witting Mawsor, KP Pangniang and Dioustar Jyndiang. Mentiobly, the UDP and the HSPDP has entered into a pre-poll alliance in Khasi jaintia hills besides the Garo tiol Council (NC) in Garo Hills.

The tiolist People’s Party (NPP) has its share of fatality. Two-time MLA, Remingtopn Pyngrope  who defected to the NPP after an eight-year stint with the UDP lost from Mawkynrew Assembly segment, besides Stephanson Mukhim (Amlarem) and Hopeful Bamon (Saipung Sutnga) and Nihim D Shira (Songsak).

If sitting MLAs have faltered in the electoral battle, there are others who have made a comeback. Prominent amongst them are Tomothy D Shira (NPP), Process sawkmie (Congress), Lambor malngiang (Independent) and Charles Pyngrope (Congress).

Of the prominent losers who spoke to newsmen said that they respected the mandate of the people which is not on expected lines. HDR Lyngdoh said, “It is an unexpected verdict because I have done a lot to the constituency in the past 25 years”, even as he added that he has to carry out a post-mortem on the choice of the people to choose another person”.

Ronnie V Lyngdoh said, “My loss is primarily due to the misunderstanding on the issue related to the alleged of the building bye laws beyond the city limits”, adding, “I take the verdict with humility”