The United Democratic Party retained the Shella Assembly constituency after its candidate Balajied Kupar Synrem won the bypoll with a massive margin, thereby consolidating the strength of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, led by NPP president and chief minister Conrad K. Sangma.

Synrem, son of former chief minister Donkupar Roy, created history of sorts as he succeeded his late father as the Shella legislator with a record margin.

The young leader defeated his nearest rival, Grace Mary Kharpuri, who contested as an Independent, by 6,221 votes — a margin which his father, whose demise necessitated the bypoll, could never achieve during his lifetime, while he represented Shella for 31 years.

Synrem polled 12,002 votes against Kharpuri’s 5,781, out of a total of 25,199 votes. People’s Democratic Front candidate Mosjo Rock F. Wanswett finished third, polling 4,327 votes.

Congress’s Batyngshain Laitmon Ryngnga managed 1,715 votes while Joshua Warjri of the BJP secured 742. Independent candidate Komen Laitmon polled 444 votes, while there were 188 votes in favour of Nota.

The massive winning margin of Synrem was even more than the total winning margins secured by Roy in all his seven consecutive elections.

According to official figures, Roy, who contested his first election in 1988, won the election by 418 votes.

His highest winning margin was in 2008 when he retained the seat by 939 votes. In his last election in 2018, Roy won the Shella seat by a mere 370 votes.

Amid the rain and the cold weather enveloping this town, about 54km from Shillong, UDP supporters came out in large numbers to express solidarity with Synrem.

“We expected this victory. We have been very confident that Synrem would win and follow in his father’s footsteps,” Senorita Ropmay, who came from Shella for the election results, told this correspondent outside the sub-divisional office here.

Like Ropmay, there were many others who rejoiced it was Roy’s son who emerged on top in this contest.

After he was handed the winner’s certificate, an elated Synrem thanked the people of Shella for reposing their faith in him.

“I thank the people of Shella, the party, the chief minister, the NPP and the HSPDP who have contributed to this victory. We got support from both parties this election. The winning margin was unexpected. I can say that the people’s love for my father is still there. I pray and hope that the love will continue,” Synrem told reporters.

On his immediate priorities, he said he would take up the unfinished tasks of his father, especially the roads at Shella. There are many other schemes and projects which have been left incomplete, he said.

Apart from the sympathy wave he received, Synrem said it was the people’s hard work which made him secure a historic win. He said the NPP had helped with the presence of its leaders.

With this victory, the strength of the MDA government, led by the NPP, has been restored to 41 in a legislature of 60 members. The Opposition Congress has 19 legislators.