The ruling Congress suffered a major blow in the Garo tribal autonomous council elections in Meghalaya, winning only seven of the 29 seats they contested even as NDA ally National People's Party claimed maximum seats.
Purno A Sangma's NPP won the maximum number of seats claiming 11 of the 26 seats they contested in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council even as the BJP bagged one of the six they contested.
BJP candidate B B Hajong edged past Congress candidate J C Hajong from Zikzak council constituency in Chief Minister Mukul Sangma's home assembly constituency.
The Garo National Council (GNC), whose leader Clifford Marak died last year, won three seats while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) managed to win in only one of the four they put up candidates.
Of the 79 Independent candidates, seven of them won in a closely fought council membership where former militant leaders, NGO leaders and family members of legislators contested.
