The Congress party emerged as the single largest party in Meghalaya clinching 22 out of the 60 assembly seats in the counting held on Saturday.

The Nationalist Congress Party came a distant second with 14 seats in its kitty.

Chief Minister Dr F A Khonglam from the Meghalaya Peoples' Forum, an amalgam of parties including the Congress, retained the Sohra seat defeating his nearest rival P N Khongjee of the United Democratic Party by a margin of 557 votes.

The UDP, which had won 20 seats in the last assembly poll, bagged nine seats, while the Meghalaya Democratic Party, the breakaway group of the UDP, managed to bag four seats with P T Sawkmie retaining the Mawlai constituency for the second consecutive time.

Among prominent Congress winners were Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang, who retained his Nongpoh seat, T C Lyngdoh from Malki Nongthymai, Friday Lyngdoh in Mawkhar and C Pyngrope in Sohryngkham constituencies.

Former home minister T H Rangad of the Bharatiya Janata Party and sitting MLA from Laban notched up victory again, while another BJP candidate A L Hek also retained his Pynthorumkhrah seat.

The Hills State People's Democratic Party, which got three seats in 1998 poll, tasted victory in two seats, including the Sohra constituency, which was won by the chief minister.

The results also sprang many surprises as Congress state president and former chief minister S C Marak could not retain Resubelpara, losing to NCP nominee Timothy Shira in a straight battle.

Among other prominent losers were former finance minister and MDP nominee A H Scott Lyngdoh, who lost to Paul Lyngdoh of the Khasi Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, a debutant in the electoral battle in Jaiaw seat. The former minister finished a poor third.

The Congress is all set to become the single largest party in Meghalaya by bagging 18 out of the 40 seats, whose results were known by 1400 hours IST Saturday.

The party was also leading in another two seats and the Nationalist Congress Party in three. The United Democratic Party, which won 20 seats in the last assembly polls, had so far bagged four seats and was leading in another two in the Khasi Hills

Among prominent Congress winners were Deputy Chief Minister D D Lapang who retained his Nongpoh seat, T C Lyngdoh from Malki Nongthymai, Friday Lyngdoh in Mawkhar and C Pyngrope in Sohryngkham constituencies.