NPP suffers crushing defeat in Meghalaya

Guwahati: BJP ally National People’s Party (NPP), at the helm of state govt, on Tuesday suffered a crushing defeat losing both the Lok Sabha seats – Shillong and CM Conrad K Sangma’s home constituency Tura.
Despite the backing of BJP, NPP failed to protect the Tura seat, which remained with the family of former CM, 10-time MP and ex-Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma for 10 out of 14 terms since 1971.
Congress made a comeback in politically advanced Tura seat spread over the Garo Hills region after 26 years and Voice of The People’s Party, just a three-year-old regional party, made its debut by winning Shillong constituency where Congress had remained unbeatable since 1998.
Purno’s daughter and NPP candidate, Agatha K Sangma, who represented the seat thrice from 2008, could not defend her family’s fort. She was annihilated by Congress candidate Saleng A Sangma by a huge margin of 1.15 lakh votes.
Congratulating her opponent Saleng, she said, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Garo hills as their MP and I am so grateful for the opportunity that was given to me. Even though I did not win this election, I will continue to serve the people of Garo Hills and Meghalaya in every way that I can.”