GUWAHATI: The strength of National People’s Party (NPP), which is a major constituent of Meghalaya’s ruling alliance, has risen to 20 after its candidate Marcuise Marak won the Williamnagar seat on Tuesday.
Election to the seat was postponed due to the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast triggered by suspected militants just days before the February 27 Meghalaya polls.
Marcuise polled 9,656 votes as against his nearest Independent candidate Sengbath R Marak who received 4,736 votes. In the 60-member Meghalaya House, which has an effective strength of 59, Opposition Congress too has 20 members.
NCP candidate Krinilla R Marak, wife of Jonathone N Sangma, came fourth. Bye-elections to the Ampati seat, earlier held by Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma, will be held on May 28. Sangma had won the February 27 elections from two seats and later, vacated the Ampati seat.
Congratulating Marcuise, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma expressed his gratitude to the voters for reposing their faith and trust in the NPP candidate.
“…As we celebrate the victory of NPP and our candidate Marcuise Marak, I would like to thank God for being with us in our journey and mission to create a new Meghalaya,” Sangma said.
This is for the second time that Marcuise has won. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2008 when he had defeated the then minister Deborah Marak. In the 2013 polls, he had lost to her. This election, Deborah came third.
Marcuise was effusive of the voters.
“I thank the people of Williamnagar for their support and blessings without which I wouldn’t have won. I will work hard to live up to their expectations,” he said.