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Counting of votes latest updates: With the results declared in Meghalaya, the Election Commission has said that the state has elected for a hung Assembly as Congress has emerged as the largest party with 21 votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi “expressed gratitude” over BJP’s performance in Meghalaya, and said that the state’s welfare is of utmost importance to the party. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal wished BJP chief Amit Shah and the party workers for a “splendid performance” in the three northeastern states. Congress has won five seats so far in Meghalaya. Incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress has clinched victory from both Songsak and Ampati seats. BJP’s Ram Madhav said that the party will still strive to form a government without Congress in the state. However, NPP’s chief ministerial aspirant Agatha Sangma is trailing against Billykid Sangma of the BJP. It seems the independent candidates will also play a crucial role in these elections as they are leading in 9 seats so far. In Meghalaya, the Congress has exuded confidence of retaining power while the BJP and regional parties are equally gung-ho about unseating the ruling party. [caption id=“attachment_4369507” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] The Congress — which has been in power for a decade — had fielded candidates in all 60 seats, of which 59 went to polls. Seven of its legislators had quit and jumped on to the bandwagon of the Bharatiya Janata Party, National People’s Party (NPP) and the newly floated People’s Democratic Front (PDF). Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, said he was confident of increasing the number of its MLAs in the new house. “We (Congress) are confident of coming to power again for the third consecutive time,” Sangma, Meghalaya’s longest serving chief minister, said to IANS. “I don’t see any anti-incumbency. Instead, there is so much of pro-incumbency. People of the state have faith and confidence in the Congress,” he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who visited Meghalaya twice during campaigning in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills regions, had said, “We have the people’s support and I am confident we will retain power in Meghalaya.” The BJP, which contested in the polls alone by fielding 47 candidates, was also confident of winning a good number of seats and forming a non-Congress government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Tourism Minister KJ Alphons were among a host of top BJP leaders, apart from Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who campaigned in the state. “Meghalaya is also getting ready for change. People have grown wary of the misdeeds and misrule of the Congress and pinning their hopes on change,” BJP’s election strategist and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The NPP, an ally of the BJP with two MLAs, is hopeful of increasing the numbers as five former Congress legislators are contesting on NPP symbol this time. “People’s voice is for change. We are hopeful to emerge as the single largest party in the Assembly and form the government,” NPP president Conrad K Sangma said. The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, Hill State People’s Democratic Party and Garo National Council are also gung-ho about electoral victory. The HSPDP and the UDP had forged a pre-poll alliance in 36 seats in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, while the UDP had tied up with the Garo National Council for 24 seats in the Garo Hills. “I hope people will reject the Congress, which even its own people have rejected by not contesting,” UDP leader Bindo Mathew Lanong said. He said he is hopeful of the regional alliance leading in the new government. Meghalaya recorded 84.86 percent polling in the Assembly election, state Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said. With inputs from agencies
Meghalaya Assembly Election results 2018 counting updates: Hung House in state, Congress emerges as largest party with 21 seats
Congress has exuded confidence of retaining power while the BJP and regional parties are equally gung-ho about unseating the ruling party in Meghalaya
 "Meghalaya Assembly Election results 2018 counting updates: Hung House in state, Congress emerges as largest party with 21 seats")
Party-wise vote share in Meghalaya
Congress to stake claim to form government in Meghalaya: Kamal Nath
The Congress will stake its claim to form the next government in Meghalaya later in the day, senior party leader Kamal Nath said, expressing confidence it would succeed in its mission.
“Well, we will make a claim to the governor on Saturday night and ask him to call us to form the government,” Nath, who has been despatched in Meghalaya along with senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Mukul Wasnik to try and form the government in Meghalaya which has returned a hung verdict.
He said Congress was in touch all the regional parties in Meghayala in its efforts to form the government.
IANS
Congress largest party in Meghalaya with 21 seats; NPP comes second
#MeghalayaElection2018: Congress wins 21, NPP 19, UDP 6, BJP 2 and Others 11 seats in Meghalaya Assembly Elections. pic.twitter.com/qQAG8IuqVs
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2018
Amit Shah calls BJP’s performance shows people’s commitment to uproot ‘politics of appeasement’
The encouraging performance of BJP in Meghalaya is a reflection of people’s commitment to uproot the politics of appeasement and a leap towards PM @narendramodi's politics of development. I congratulate entire @bjp4meghalaya unit for this remarkable performance.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 3, 2018
Some of the highest and lowest margins seen so far in the elections
60: The number of seats by which NPP won in Nongstoin constituency
8181: UDP’s Kyrmen Shella won in Khiehrait constituency where BJP workers resigned enmass when Violet Lyngdoh was denied a seat. She went on to contest as NPP candidate and finished third, behind Justine Dkhar (BJP).
Input by 101Reporters
Ahmed Patel says Congress won’t involved in ‘horse-trading’ in Meghalaya
#JUSTIN | We are confident of forming govt in Meghalaya. We are not going to involve in horse-trading ... but I can’t say anything about @bjp4india: @ahmedpatel, Congress | #ElectionsWithNews18 pic.twitter.com/jRtv8aIiRX
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 3, 2018
Amit Shah talks on BJP’s governance in other states
Even if we don't count Meghalaya, BJP & NDA has governance in 21 states across the nation today. Mandate after mandate has been in the favor of Narendra Modi Ji & his govt: Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/0xew3y77xY
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2018
Ahmed Patel exudes confidence in Congress in Meghalaya
We have a clear majority in Meghalaya. We have a setback in Tripura in Nagaland, we will have to work on that.: Ahmed Patel, Congress pic.twitter.com/RxxxB92TUZ
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2018
Second and only other BJP MLA from Meghalaya, Sanbor Shullai speaks after his win from South Shillong
“I am the only MLA in the state who represents the Cantonment area which has a lot of unutilised land. I will take this up with Centre and get them to allocate these lands from civilians use so we can construct toilets, playground, community halls,” BJP’s Sanbor Shullai said.
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Narendra Modi thanks voters in Meghalaya for supporting BJP
I express my gratitude to the people of Meghalaya for supporting @BJP4Meghalaya. The welfare of Meghalaya is of utmost importance for us. I appreciate the BJP Karyakartas for their continued efforts in the state to serve the people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2018
Alexander L Hek (BJP) retains Pynthorumkhrah seat, defeating James Ban Basaiawmoit (PDF) by 1400 votes
Alexander L Hek has been continually elected as a BJP MLA from Pynthorumkhrah constituency since 1998, the only abberation being in 2013 when he won as a Congress candidate.
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal thanks voters in three North East states for ‘keeping faith’ in BJP
Many congratulations Shri @AmitShah ji & @BJP4India Karyakartas for the splendid performance in assembly polls held in Tripura, Nagaland & Meghalaya. We also thank the people of #NorthEast for keeping faith in our party & supporting us in our endeavour of a #CongressMuktBharat
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 3, 2018
Prestone Tynsong (NPP) retains Pynursla by a margin of 2800 votes
Prestone Tynsong photographed with his wife Anjella Kharsyntiew. After the declaration of results, he said he will first visit his constituency to thank the voters. Then he will return to Shillong and sit down with all newly-elected NPP MLAs, and Conrad Sangma, to decide on the party’s strategy. “We will know by tomorrow,” he said. He declined to comment on whether his name will be put forth for the chief minister’s position.
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters.
Results in 26 seats declared
BJP wins its first seat ever in Meghalaya:
INC – 11
HSPDP – 2
NPP – 5
UDP – 3
KHNAM – 1
PDF – 1
IND – 2
Sniawbhalang Dhar (NPP) won from Nartiang constituency against INC candidate by 2000 votes
Sniawbhalang Dhar retains the seat, which he won in 2013 as a Congress candidate.
Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Charles Pyngrope (INC) won from Nongthymmai constituency, defeating Dr Jemino Mawthoh (UDP) by 957 votes
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Rerporters
Process T Sawkmie (INC) won from Mawlai constituency against an independent candidate
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Trajectory of leads and wins so far:
BJP’s AL Hek, who defected from Congress before polls, wins from Pynrthorumkhrah
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Congress’ Ampareen Lyngdoh defeated BJP’s Neil Antonio War
Party-wise vote share in Meghalaya
NPP wins in Nongstoin
Macmillan Byrsat (NPP) wins a very tight election in Nongstoin. He defeated Gabriel Wahlang (INC) by merely 60 votes. Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
BJP talks about ‘Left-mukt Bharat’
BJP will form government in #Meghalaya too. We will win 2019 polls on the basis of exemplary work. It's not just Congress mukt Bharat, but Left mukt Bharat: Ravi Shankar Prasad. #ElectionsWithNews18 #LIVE: https://t.co/TRbc7YhAi7 pic.twitter.com/dkRT6NfLZH
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 3, 2018
Congress’ Hima Shangpliang on his victory
Hima Shangpliang (INC) won from Mawsynram against PDF’s PN Syiem. As the new MLA of the constituency, he said he will focus on “development work like roads, bridges and particularly schemes for the people. Health sector also needs a lot of change.”
Asked how he would rate the constituency, Shanpliang said in the present scenario, he would only give it 3 out of 10. Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Will support any party which works for people: Independent candidate
I will be supporting any party that works for the welfare of the people of state: SK Sunn, Independent candidate who won from Mawphlang constituency in Meghalaya #MeghalayaElection2018 pic.twitter.com/nl7DwFsBps
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2018
Congress’ Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang wins from Rambrai, NPP’s Gigur Myrthong wins from Mawshynrut
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Mukul Sangma, the winner
Trends so far
Can’t be 100 percent sure about forming govt in Meghalaya: Tarun Gogoi
Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi commented on the results so far and said, “We were hopeful about Meghalaya, and the trends so far indicate we have a chance at forming the government, although I can’t be a 100 percent sure.”
“About the BJP emerging strong in these states, it is not a new phenomenon that Northeastern states have voted for the party in power at the Centre. Small states often do that, so it isn’t a big deal. But after their recent losses in bypolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, BJP winning a few seats in the North East would not be of significance.”
NPP’s SG Esmatur Mominin wins Phulbari seat
Input by Saidul Khan/101Reporters
Can Mukul Sangma save Congress in Meghalaya?
It has been clear even before Meghalaya went to polls on 27 February that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was the face of the Congress in the state.
In fact, Rahul Gandhi campaigned only twice in Meghalaya. Now, the fate of the Congress rests in the hands of Sangma and a lot depends on how he plays his cards, according to this India Today article.
The key may lie with the independents.
Congress’ Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang wins from Mawsynram
Trailing him by 1,000 votes was PN Syiem (PDF), the leader of the party and its chief ministerial candidate. Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
BJP’s Sanbor Shullai wins in South Shillong
Input by Saidul Khan/101Reporters
Adelbert Nongrum talks to reporters after his victory
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Vote is against the Congress in Meghalaya: Nalin Kohli
In #Meghalaya, the vote is basically against the Congress if you see the performance of other parties. Leaders will discuss if there can be possibility of a post poll alliance: Nalin Kohli,BJP Meghalaya incharge pic.twitter.com/zLjPIfGdyx
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2018
Independent candidate Syntar Klas Sunn wins in Mawphlang constituency
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Here is the trajectory of leads so far:
Adelbert Nongrum leads in North Shillong
According to latest updates by the Election Commission, he is in the lead with 300 votes with counting in progress. He is from Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM). Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
Congress wins 5 seats, NPP wins 2
BJP, UDP+ and others have won one seat each.
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