SHILLONG, Feb 10 - Some sitting MLAs in Meghalaya are on thin ice and a glimpse of the 2013 Assembly elections shows that in 20 seats the victory margin was marginal. One won by just eleven votes, and so the outcome of the poll battle in these seats this time would be keenly watched.
Congress, which is seeking to retain power by fighting anti-incumbency and a buoyant NPP and also BJP, in fact has many of its sitting legislators, or those contesting from the party this time, in this shaky list of 20.
There are eleven seats in which the winning candidate won by under 500 votes and in nine the margin was just over 500.
First is Congress MLA from Mendhipathar, Marthon Sangma. He won the seat on NCP ticket in 2013 by 11 votes, defeating his rival Frankenstein Momin from Congress. This time Momin is contesting from NPP. The second closest victory is of South Tura MLA John Leslee K Sangma. He won the seat as an Independent candidate defeating Billykid A Sangma of Congress by just 18 votes. Billykid has joined BJP and John the NCP.
Former Chief Minister and UDP chief, Donkupar Roy won the Shella seat for a record sixth term, but with a victory margin of just 355 votes. The runners up Leston Wanswett (PDF) is again going to give him a strong fight.
Brigady Marak from Bajengdoba won the seat as an Independent against Adolf Lu Hitler by just 220 votes. Marak is contesting to retain the seat, this time on a Congress ticket.
Former Speaker and senior Congress leader, Martin M Danggo won the Ranikor seat by 455 votes. Dalu Congress candidate, Kenethson R Sangma won the seat by just 478 votes defeating Brening Sangma, who has now joined NPP.
In Phulbari, Speaker, Abu Taher Mondal won the seat by 499 votes against Mark Goera B Marak, an independent candidate. Mondal is contesting from Congress and Marak is again contesting from the seat as an independent.
If these were some candidates winning by less than 500 votes there are again three other seats where the Congress candidates� victory margin was less than 1,000 votes.
Noverfield R Marak (Cong) won the North Tura seat by 565 votes against Roger Benny A Sangma, an independent. Sangma is again contesting against Marak as an independent candidate this time. In Mawryngkneng, David A Nongrum won the seat by 626 votes when he contested as an independent against his nearest rival Pynehborlang Mukhim of UDP. Nongrum has now joined Congress and would be fighting against Mukhim to retain his seat.
The Jowai seat has been vacated by senior Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Roytre Christopher Laloo, who has retired. Laloo narrowly won the seat by 679 votes defeating Moonlight Pariat. Pariat is now contesting on a UDP ticket.
Eventually, Congress won 29 seats in the 2013 elections. No other party came remotely close to the Congress. The second highest number of eight seats were won by UDP.
In fact, the Independents 13 seats and many jumped to the Congress bandwagon. Later, in the Chokpot by-election, the Congress candidate Bluebell Sangma won the seat and the party�s tally went up to 30 in the 60 member House.
With the support of Independents and two NCP candidates, the Congress Government enjoyed a comfortable majority in the House for most part of its five year term, save the frequent infightings within the grand old party.