Congress ahead in 17 Meghalaya seats

Shillong, March 3 (IANS) The ruling Congress is leading in 17 seats, and the National People's Party in 10 in the vote count for the Meghalaya assembly on Saturday.

Polling for 59 out of the state's 60 assembly seats was held on February 27. The election to one seat was countermanded following the killing of a candidate.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is leading from two assembly seats Ampati and Songsak.

The Conrad Sangma-led NPP, which is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, Rajasthan and Manipur, fought the elections in Meghalaya on its own.

BJP nominees are ahead in two seats.

The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Garo National Council is leading in six constituencies.

Sangma, who has won five consecutive terms from Ampati constituency since 1993, is leading by 797 votes over his nearest rival Bakul Ch. Hajong of the BJP.

In Songsak, the veteran Congress leader is leading by 1,501 votes against NPP's Nihim D. Shira.

Polling to the Williamnagar seat was countermanded following the killing of Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast at Sawilgre area in East Garo Hills district on February 18.