Shillong, Dec 16: The ruling Congress suffered a blow in the bypolls to two tribal autonomous district councils in Meghalaya, winning just two of the six seats they contested levelling score with each of the two regional parties, United Democratic Party and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party. The BJP which fielded candidates in all the seven seats also failed to impress tribal voters in the state with six of them forfeiting their security deposits.
The Congress won one seat each in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council respectively while the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) clinched two seats each in the KHADC only.
Ricky Shullai, nephew of state NCP chief and former deputy speaker Sanbor Shullai, won from the Laban-Mawprem constituency in the city.
The HSPDP won from Nongspung-Sohiong in East Khasi Hills district and Pariong-Mawthadraishan in West Khasi Hills district.
The Opposition UDP which also fielded candidates in all seven seats won only two seats - from Nongkrem and Mairang-Nongkhlaw constituency respectively. The by-elections also saw two former chief executive Members -- Lamdihok Sumer of the Congress and H S Shylla of the UDP - getting re-elected to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council respectively.
The bye-election was necessitated after seven out of the eight legislators resigned from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, following the passing of a legislation preventing them from holding two elected posts.
The Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015 seeks to end holding of dual posts by the MLAs.
