The NPP’s victory in the Gambegre by-election marks a key setback for Congress.
The party which had won the seat twice in 2018 and 2023 has now been left with only one MLA in the 60-member Assembly.
Congress had hoped to retain Gambegre and had banked on the popularity of Tura MP Saleng Sangma to fight against the might of the NPP.
With the loss of Gambegre, the grand old party will have to be content with the presence of its lone MLA from Mylliem Ronnie V. Lyngdoh.
Earlier, three MLAs – Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Charles Marngar and Gabriel Wahlang – who were elected on Congress ticket left the party and joined the NPP.
It remains to be seen as to how the party deals with the current decline although many political observers put the blame on the inefficient State party president Vincent H. Pala.
