With today’s loss of Mawryngkneng and Rajabala seats, Congress has for the third time in a row since 2018 lost four seats in by-elections.
The first loss was in Ranikor constituency. In March 2018, Martin M. Danggo won the Ranikor seat on a Congress ticket. Three months later, Danggo quit his party and joined the NPP. He also resigned as an MLA necessitating a by-poll in the constituency, which was held on August 23.
On August 27, 2018 when results were declared, the five-time MLA faced a shock defeat. He managed to get 10,287 votes, losing by a margin of 2,896 votes against UDP candidate Pius Marwein who secured 13,183 votes. Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma could poll only 938 votes.
Six months earlier, Danggo had defeated the Marwein by a margin of 2,002 votes.
The second loss by Congress in a by-election was on April 11 this year when NPP snatched the Selsella seat.
The by-poll held was necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MLA Clement Marak on October 9, 2020.
Ferlin Sangma of NPP defeated Clement’s wife June Eliana Marak by a margin of 4369 votes. Ferlin bagged a total of 15,781 votes.
