Shillong, May 27: United Democratic Party (UDP) leader and Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla on Monday said partners of the MDA government cannot be blamed for the defeat of the common candidate from Shillong Parliamentary constituency, Jemino Mawthoh in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Mawthoh, the candidate sponsored by the UDP, defeated sitting Congress MP, Vincent H. Pala only in Khliehriat Assembly constituency, which is being represented by Kyrmen Shylla and Nongthymmai Assembly constituency.

“Through Mawthoh as the candidate, the vote share of the UDP has increased in this Lok Sabha election,” Shylla told reporters.

Shylla thanked leaders of other political parties and ministers and MLAs of the MDA government for supporting Mawthoh as the common candidate, though he contested on the symbol of the UDP.

Shylla hoped that the UDP would further grow in Jaiñtia Hills and other parts of the state with the love and support of the people.

Terming Pala an experienced politician who had managed to win thrice from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency continuously since 2009, Shylla also hoped that the Shillong MP would raise issues concerning the state as a whole in Parliament and perform better than in the past.

“Even though he is in the Opposition, I hope that with experience, our MP will do well this time, and take up issues for the interest of the state and bring development to the state including my Khliehriat constituency, though he (Pala) lost in my constituency,” Shylla, who is the minister from the UDP in the MDA government, said.

According to Shylla, the fear of the people that the BJP may again bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill must have helped the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections especially from Shillong constituency that led to the victory of Pala.

Asked if political parties that are part of the MDA government should take the blame for the humiliating defeat of the common candidate, Shylla said, “Nobody has to right to blame anyone. Our partners have all worked hard for Mawthoh but just because we could not win, it does not mean that we have to fix the blame on somebody.”

Pala won with a margin of 1,52,433 votes, the biggest ever margin to be won by any candidate from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency since 1977.

Pala, the former Union minister, polled 419,689 votes (53.52 per cent), defeating Mawthoh who polled 267,256 votes (34.08 per cent).

Pala got enough votes in all the 36 Assembly constituencies.

Pala was defeated in Khliehriat, and Nongthymmai by Jemino. In West Shillong and South Shillong constituencies, Pala was defeated by Shullai.

Pala got 11,809 votes in Khliehriat, 8,085 votes in Nongthymmai, 5,046 votes in West Shillong and 5,349 votes in South Shillong Assembly seats.

Mawthoh who came second, won from Khliehriat Assembly constituency and he got 15,870 votes and 8,290 votes in Nongthymmai Assembly constituency.

Pala also won from Assembly constituencies represented by ministers and MLAs of the MDA government including Shella Assembly constituency, being represented by Assembly Speaker, Dr Donkupar Roy, as well as in other constituencies represented by other UDP ministers and legislators and members of District Councils.

In Shella, Pala got 9,752 votes, and Mawthoh got 6,407 votes.