The United Democratic Party (UDP) wrested Sohiong seat after its candidate, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah defeated sitting MLA and NPP candidate, Samlin Malngiang by a margin of 3,422 votes.
Counting began at 8 am and in all the seven rounds, UDP had an edge over its closest rival of the NPP.
Thabah polled 16, 679 votes against 13, 257 votes polled by Malngiang.
Malngiang had won the 2018 polls on an HSPDP ticket but quit the party in January to contest from the NPP.
Thabah is a UDP replacement for the polls after the party’s candidate Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh passed away on February 20, one week before the state elections.
With the win, UDP’s strength in the 60-member House increased to 12. The NPP has 28 MLAs.
Meanwhile, at a distant third position was Congress candidate S. Osborne Kharjana with 1762 votes. 272 people chose the None of the Above or NOTA option in the deferred by-poll.
The All India Trinamool Congress, HSPDP and BJP candidates settled for 89, 62, and 40 votes respectively.
The outcome of the election from Sohiong was seen as crucial in adding to the strength of the ruling MDA-2.
