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Mandate

ture. Daughter of former Lok Sabha
The rightist Speaker Purno A Sangma and sister
party also won of Meghalaya chief minister Conrad
Sangma defeated her nearest rival
a Parliamentary Mukul Sangma, the former Congress
chief minister.
constituency for the However the Shillong LS seat was
first time in Manipur, retained by the Congress, where the
sitting Parliamentarian Vincent Pala
where the other LS defeated his closest rival United Dem-
ocratic Party (UDP) nominee Jemino
seat was won by Naga Mawthoh. Another NDA partner
People’s Front (NPF) Nationalist Democratic Progressive
Party (NDPP) of Nagaland also suc-
ceeded in winning the lone LS seat
Tripura LS seat. The other Parliamen- defeating veteran Congress leader KL
tary constituency (East Tripura) was Chishi. NDPP’s Tokheho Yepthomi was
won by BJP candidate Rabati Tripura declared winner in the Parliamentary
defeating his nearest rival Pragya Deb- seat, where present Nagaland chief
barma of the Congress. minister Neiphiu Rio emerged victori-
Two LS seats of Arunachal Pradesh ous in 2014 national polls.
were also won by BJP nominees. Un- The lone LS seat of Mizoram was
ion minister Kiren Rijiju defeated his won by Mizo National Front (MNF)
nearest Congress rival and former candidate C Lalrosanga. The former
State chief minister Nabam Tuki in Indian broadcasting service officer de-
Arunachal West LS seat. Similarly in feated his nearest rival Lalnghinglova
Arunachal East Parliamentary seat Hmar, an independent candidate sup-
BJP leader Tapir Gao emerged victori- ported by the Congress. NDA partner
ous against Congress nominee Low- MNF nominee was also challenged
angcha Wanglat. In the simultaneous by few other candidates in the poll
Assembly elections too, the BJP turned battles.
victorious winning over 40 seats (out NDA constitute SKM won the lone
of 60). State chief minister Pema Khan- LS seat of Sikkim and also emerged
du has proved his mettle to retain his victorious in the Assembly polls. SKM
position with a convincing victory as nominee Indra Hang Subba defeated
the saffron party can form the govern- his arch rival DB Katwal of Sikkim
ment with BJP legislators alone. Mean- Democratic Front (SDF) in Parliamen-
while, a slain legislator (Tirong Aboh of tary polls. On the other hand, Prem
National People’s Party, who was killed Singh Tamang led SKM won 17 seats
dependent candidate Naba (alias Hira) by militants on 21 May in Tirap) was in the 32 member legislative assembly
Sarania retained his Kokrajhar LS seat declared winner in the assembly polls. ending over two decades long tenure
defeating State minister Pramila Rani The rightist party also won a Parlia- of Pawan Kr Chamling as chief minis-
Brahma, who was nominated by BJP mentary constituency for the first time ter of the tiny State. Unlike many parts
ally Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). A in Manipur, where the other LS seat of the country, the alienated region
former rebel belonged to the United was won by Naga People’s Front (NPF). witnessed peaceful, participatory and
Liberation Front of Assam, Sarania BJP nominee RK Ranjan Singh defeat- almost smooth polling that might have
succeeded in overcoming challenges ed his closest rival O Nabakishore of helped the residents of various ethnic
from two other important rivals of the the Congress in Inner Manipur LS seat, communities to nurture a new kind of
Congress and UPPL. Tripura has elect- where NPF candidate Lorho S Pfoze nationalism where the electorate set
ed two BJP representatives to Lok Sab- emerged victorious against his rival aside their differences and came for-
ha for the first time, keeping pace with BJP nominee H Shokhopao Mate in ward for a strong, safe and prosperous
the saffron wave that swept the State Outer Manipur LS seat. India.
during the last Legislative Assembly In Meghalaya, NDA constitute Na- The author is a northeast India based
polls. Saffron nominee Pratima Bhow- tional People’s Party (NPP) retained journalist and political commentator
mik defeated her closest rival Subal its Tura LS seat through former Union
Bhowmik of the Congress in West minister Agatha Sangma’s candida- letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 June 2019 23 www.Tehelka.com