Shillong: The Congress won 16 seats and was leading in another 13 seats past 3 pm on Thursday as counting of votes for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly progressed. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, his wife D D Shira and his brother Zenith Sangma were poised for big wins.
The United Democratic Party or UDP, which had an alliance with the Congress in the outgoing Assembly, won four seats and was leading in another four.
Lone woman legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh retained her urban 16 East Shillongseat, edging out her nearest rival and former deputy chief minister B M Lanongof the UDP by over 4000 votes.
Cabinet Ministers H D R Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong retained their Sohiong andPynursla seats respectively.
Lyngdoh won by a margin of over 3000 votes over his lone rival and UDPcandidate B Kharphuli while Tynsong is leading over his nearest rival and UDPcandidate B Khongwar by almost 2000 votes.
The PA Sangma led National Peoples' Party was yet to register any win.