Shillong, Oct 29: Meghalaya is all geared up to hold by-polls for three Legislative Assembly Constituencies on Saturday. The three constituencies are Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang, and Rajabala, and the counting will be held on November 2.

Polling officials deputed to Mawryngkneng and Mawphlang  proceeded for their respective polling booth with the-all-important EVMs on Friday, while officials for Rajabala had left on Thursday.

In Mawryngkneng Assembly constituency, around 36,751 voters will be casting their votes in 60 polling stations.

In Mawphlang, 33,194 electorate will cast their vote in 50 polling stations.

In Rajabala constituency, about 32,750 voters will cast their votes in 58 polling booths.

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.

Vulnerable polling stations

Mentionably, ECI has identified 47 vulnerable polling stations in the three constituencies.

29 polling stations in Rajabala, 8 in Mawryngkneng and 10 in Mawphlang has been designated as vulnerable.

At the same time, security has been beefed up following the HNLC’S threat and also the scuffle in Rajabala.