Meghalaya polls: VPP wins 17 seats in a resounding victory, sweeping the KHADC polls
Meghalaya polls: VPP wins 17 seats in a resounding victory, sweeping the KHADC polls
Digital Desk: Having won 17 seats thus far in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has become the party in control.
The VPP, led by Nongkrem legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit, has made considerable gains in various areas, posing a challenge to established powerhouses. The party's influence now extends to crucial seats such as Nongkrem, Laitumkhrah, Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Mawthadraishan, and Nongstoin.
VPP's emergence has transformed electoral dynamics in urban strongholds like Nongthymmai, Mawlai, and Mylliem, while its presence in Sohryngkham, Mawkynrew, and Mawphlang Diengiei has strengthened its grassroots reach even further.
The rural areas of Mawkyrwat, Umroi, Umsning, and Mawhati have also leaned toward the VPP, indicating a broader voter demand for new leadership. Langkyrdem, which rounded off the list of won constituencies, demonstrated the party's expanding power in both urban and rural Khasi hills. The party's ascent comes at the expense of the National People's Party (NPP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), both of which have suffered defeats in critical battlegrounds.
The elections saw fierce rivalry, particularly in Mawkyrwat, Langrin, and Umsning, where the VPP and United Democratic Party (UDP) faced off against the NPP. While the UDP maintained a stronghold in Nongpoh and Jirang, the NPP remained influential in Mawkyrwat despite the mounting challenge from the VPP. INC, on the other hand, failed to build power
Support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) was low, and the BJP did not do well in Mahwati or Langrin. VPP candidates defeated KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem of the NPP and former Deputy CEM Pynshngain N. Syiem of Congress.
VPP's Winston Tony Lyngdoh defeated the sitting CEM in Nongthymmai by 3,832 votes, while VPP's Strong Pillar Kharjana defeated the former Deputy CEM in Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah by 2,540 votes.
