Shillong, Nov 2: The National People’s Party (NPP) has won the Rajabala seat with a margin of 1927 votes with the counting of votes for the bye-election at Rajabala constituency coming to an end with the NPP candidate Md. Abdus Saleh bagging 11,812 votes at the end of the 9th Round of counting.

Congress’ Hasina Yasmin Mondal secured the second spot with 9,885 votes. After the 4th round it looked like Mondal was in close contest with Saleh with the margin at just 90 votes. However, with the counting done for the 5th, 6th and 7th round and 8th round, she kept sliding quite further down and the margin only kept getting wider.

At third place was UDP’s Ashahel D Shira with 7,228 votes.

BJP’s Kingstone B Marak secured 329 votes, and Independent candidate Carla R. Sangma got 253 votes. There were also 174 votes cast for NOTA (None of the Above).

Rajabala has 32,750 voters, of which 91% voted on October 30.

Abdus Saleh returns as MLA

With the win on Tuesday, Abdus Saleh also makes a comeback as an MLA after over 8 years.

He had lost to Ashahel D Shira, Independent candidate, in the 2013 elections and again to DR Azad Zaman of the Congress in 2018 elections from Rajabala.

However, his defeat can largely be attributed to the delimitation before the 2013 election by the election commission because he made his political debut from Mahendraganj constituency in its bye-election as an Independent candidate.

He went on to win the next election again from Mahendraganj but five years later shifted to Rajabala due to the delimitation which made Mahendraganj a reserved seat.

Rajabala Constituency: Final Tally

Md. Abdus Saleh (NPP) – 11,812
Hasina Yasmin Mondal (INC) – 9,885
Ashahel D Shira (UDP) – 7,228
Kingstone B Marak (BJP) – 329
Carla R Sangma (INP) – 253
NOTA – 174