All the four sitting legislators who joined BJP amidst much anticipation lost the election. The counting for the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly polls was held on Thursday.
As many as three sitting legislators from Garo Hills including one Independent and one legislator from Khasi Hills joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December.
However, none of these legislators could make a comeback.
These legislators who failed to retain their seats include, Four times MLA, Samuel Sangma who was an Independent legislator from Baghmara constituency was considered as heavy weight. Apart from that after resigning from NPP, Benedict Marak (Raksamgre) and Fairlene Sangma (Selsella) too joined BJP. AITC legislator from Mawsynram (East Khasi Hills) Himalaya M Shangpliang gets into saffron fold.
Meanwhile, the saffron could manage to retain its original two seats.
Two BJP legislators – AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai – on Thursday retained the Pynthorumkhrah and South Shillong seat respectively.
Hek told reporters that he was happy with the performance of the BJP although they expected to win more seats.
Hek defeated his closest rival Congress nominee PN Syiem. He also refused to comment on him defeating his own nephew Rocky Hek of the NPP and said, “That is family matter and it will remain in the family only”.
On government formation, Hek said that the decision will be taken by the party high command.
Expressing happiness on being re-elected for the fourth consecutive time, Shullai said, “I feel very happy and I pray to God that through his blessings that I have again won this MLA election with a margin of 11,600 and I must congratulate and I am thankful to all the wise electorate of South Shillong who have again repose faith and confident in my leadership.”
“Because the wise electorate love me, they bless me and they are free to meet me. I am accessible to them. I don’t keep any dogs or any security or police in my house so they are free to come up to my bedroom, to my kitchen, to my office also so they can address their problems and grievances face to face,” he said.
He said that the people of Meghalaya are accepting the BJP and the vote share of the party is increasing. “Hopefully in the coming years, the BJP will surely form the government,” he added.