SHILLONG, APR 19: Meghalaya has recorded an overall voter turnout of 72.33% on Friday’s polling for the two parliamentary constituencies Shillong and Tura.

The percentage of voters turnout this year is expected to rise as compared to the last Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, which was at 71.42% as informed by CEO.

Altogether there are a total of 10 candidates of which six are from Shillong parliamentary constituency and four from Tura parliamentary constituency.

“We are yet to get the final polling percentage but once the final figure comes, we are sure that the overall polling percentage will increase,” chief electoral officer (CEO) Dr BDR Tiwari informed media.

He further stated, that the voting percentage in Shillong parliamentary constituency has increased but Tura has decreased.

“Till 5pm, the polling percentage for Shillong was at 71.26% and Tura at 69.31%,” he said that in 2019, the voting percentage for Tura was at 81.38% and Shillong at 65.48%.

Expressing happiness that the elections have passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents, the CEO said, “I am very happy to inform that the elections for the 18th Lok Sabha have been completed in a peaceful manner. There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere. Elections have been held in a peaceful and festival of democracy was observed in a befitting manner in the state”.

He informed that altogether during mock poll and polling 47 BU, 34 CU and 109 VVPATs got replaced and the replacement was done well within time. According to him, webcasting was done in over 1886 polling stations for monitoring the entire polling process.

On model code of conduct (MCC) violations, Dr Tiwari said, “it was brought to our knowledge and cognizance has been taken by the returning officer (RO) of Shillong. An FIR has been filed. RO has taken cognizance and needful appropriate action has been taken.”

He was referring to incidents of voters clicking photographs of an EVM machine to show their support to a particular party and carrying the physical symbol of a party while casting votes.

Asked if such votes will be counted as invalid, the CEO however said, “it will be very difficult to say now once we properly examine the entire matter all the needful action will be taken.”

He also maintained that the model code of conduct will remain in force till election results are declared on June 4.

CEO informed that elaborate security arrangements are in place for safeguarding the 13 strong rooms across the 12 districts and one civil sub division.

“Seven companies of the CAPF will be engaged and detailed plans have been worked out by the police in consultation with the respective deputy commissioners and SDO all needful arrangements have been put in place for security of the strong rooms. There are 13 strong rooms of which 12 are in the district headquarters and one in Sohra civil subdivision,” he stated.

According to him, counting will also be held in all the 13 places.

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