Sutnga Saipung Result 2023 Highlights: Meghalaya Congress Chief Vincent Pala Loses Seat

Sutnga Saipung Result 2023 Highlights: Congress state chief Vincent Pala is contesting for the first time from the Sutnga Saipung constituency.

Background

Sutnga Saipung Result 2023 Live Updates: Congress state chief Vincent Pala is contesting for the first time from the Sutnga Saipung constituency. Pala's performance in the elections could have a big impact on Meghalaya’s political landscape.

Pala, a former Union Minister of Water Resources and the sitting member of Parliament of Congress from Meghalaya’s Shillong Lok Sabha constituency said he is confident that Congress will do better than expected.

“We are not making any big promises to the people of Meghalaya. Our candidates are making personal connect with the voters in each constituency. And that will be the difference in this election,” Pala said.

He expressed confidence that the people of the state still trust Congress.

“We won’t go for aggressive campaigning and people by this time have very well known what the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Trinamool and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are doing,” Pala said.

Pala recalled the setback the party suffered in 2021 when 12 out of 17 Congress MLAs left the party and joined the Trinamool Congress and how the remaining five who were suspended for their anti-party activities also deserted the party.

Boosting party workers and talking about the legislators quitting the party, Pala said, “This won’t affect any prospects of the party. They left giving us ample time to select candidates whose heart is with Congress. We could now project to the people new faces with a zeal to work for the people”.

Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly, but polling in the Sohiong constituency was adjourned following the death of one of the candidates. The Congress and the BJP contested in 59 seats, while the NPP had put up nominees in 56 constituencies, the TMC in 57 and the UDP in 46.

After polling on February 27, F R Kharkongor said that 85.25 per cent of the state’s 21.6 lakh voters exercised their franchise during the assembly election held. The tenure of the 10th Meghalaya Assembly is scheduled to end on March 15, 2023. In the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly election, a coalition led by the National People's Party (NPP) formed the state government, with Conrad Sangma becoming Chief Minister.

The Election Commission (EC) has deployed 119 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Meghalaya to ensure a smooth polling process. According to EC, 375 candidates are contesting for the 60 Assembly seats.

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) is striving to retain power in the northeastern state, while the BJP, Trinamool Congress, and other regional parties hope to bring about a change in the government.

Times Now-ETG, India Today-My Axis and Zee News-Matrize predicted a hung house in the state, even though Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad Sangma remained confident of victory. The majority mark to form government in the state is 31. 

23:48 PM (IST)  •  02 Mar 2023

Sutnga Saipung Result 2023: Meghalaya Congress Chief Vincent Pala Loses Seat

Santa Mary Shylla of NPP defeated Meghalaya Congress chief Vincent Pala in Sutnga Saipung constituency by a close margin of 1828 votes.