Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi wins Rajya Sabha seat in Meghalaya

Ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) candidate Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi won Rajya Sabha seat in state on Friday, an Election Commission official said.

election was held during day and Kharlukhi, who is state president of National People's Party, defeated Congress' Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem by a margin of 20 votes, y said.

"MDA candidate W R Kharlukhi secured 39 votes while his opponent Kenndy Khyriem secured 19 votes. One vote was declared invalid and one abstained from voting," official said.

In house of 60, MDA has support of 41 MLAs and Congress has 19 MLAs.

However, MDA-partner KHNAM legislator elbert ngrum abstained from voting to express his dissent against NPP whose Lok Sabha MP Agatha K Sangma h voted in favour of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Parliament whereas party in state opposed it.

After being declared elected to Rajya Sabha, Kharlukhi said, "It is a privilege to serve state. I will t let people down."