Shillong, Oct 30: Rajabala constituency has so far registered the best polling percentage at 79 percent for the bye-elections underway at three constituencies in Meghalaya. The number for Rajabala is expected to go higher as voting was still underway at several polling stations till the filing of this story.
West Garo Hills District election officer Ram Singh informed that besides the ongoing polling there are also 10 polling stations that are yet to be accounted in the final list.
These 10 stations have not been able to pass on their polling percentage, at the moment.
Meanwhile, the polling percentage for the two constituencies in East Khasi Hills, namely, Mawryngneng and Mawphlang stood at 62.14% and 64.51%, respectively, till 3 PM.
There was no untoward incident reported at any of the polling area and polling remained peaceful throughout the day.
The polling to elect three legislators to Meghalaya Assembly got underway on Saturday morning at 7 am amidst tight Covid-19 protocols. The counting of the ballots is on November 2.
As per reports, West Garo Hills Returning Officer, two VVPAT machines malfunctioned – at Batabari and Old Bhaitbari, but were replaced with spare at the start of polling.
It is anticipated that the overall voting percentage will be near the 80% mark at the end of polling.
Vulnerable polling stations
Mentionably, ECI had identified 47 vulnerable polling stations in the three constituencies. To ensure free and fair elections, election commission had called in additional four companies of Central paramilitary forces for deployment to vulnerable polling stations.
29 polling stations in Rajabala, 8 in Mawryngkneng and 10 in Mawphlang has been designated as vulnerable.
Security was beefed up at several polling stations following the HNLC’S threat and also the scuffle in Rajabala on the last day of campaign.
Multi-corner contest in all seats
In Mawryngkneng, KHADC chairman and Sohryngkham MDC Pyniaid Sing Syiem from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is contesting against the opposition Congress nominee Highlander Kharmalki and three Independent candidates – Esron Marwein, Arbiangkam Kharsohmat and Norbert Marboh.
On the other hand, SK Sunn’s son Eugeneson Lyngdoh, a football star, from the United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket, is pitched against two seasoned politicians – former MLA Kennedy C Khyriem of the Congress and four-time MDC Lamphrang Blah of the NPP – from the Mawphlang constituency.
In Rajabala, 5 candidates are in the fray. The NPP has fielded former MLA Abdus Saleh, UDP has fielded sitting MDC from the constituency Ashahel D Shira, Congress has nominated Hashina Yasmin Mondol, wife of Late Azad Zaman the sitting MLA of Rajabala who passed away earlier this year, and BJP has fielded Kingstone B Marak, and Carla R Sangma is contesting as an Independent.
