Shillong, May 13 (IANS) United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah on Saturday won the Sohiong Assembly constituency in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district by defeating his nearest opponent Samlin Malngiang of the National People's Party (NPP) by a margin of 3,422 votes.

In the six-corner contest, Thabah secured 16,679 votes while Malngiang bagged 13,257. Sohiong By-Election Result 2023: UDP Candidate Synshar Kupar Roy Thabah Wins Meghalaya Bypoll by Over 3,400 Votes.

Congress candidate S. Osborne Kharjana and the BJP's Seraph Eric Kharbuki got 1,762 and 40 votes, respectively, while 272 votes were polled against NOTA (None Of The Above) category.

The election for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly were held on February 27 but polling in Sohiong did not take place following the death of UDP candidate H. Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh, who passed away on February 20 due to illness.

Around 92 per cent of the 34,783 voters cast their votes in the May 10 by-election. Sohiong By-Election Result 2023: Counting of Votes Underway Amid Tight Security for Meghalaya Bypoll.

In the February 27 polls, the UDP got 11 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly (elections held in 59 seats) and after the announcement of the result, the tribal based party became an ally of NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

The UDP, NPP and BJP, who fought the February elections against each other, are now partners of the MDA government, headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who is also the national President of the NPP.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 13, 2023 05:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).