Tura, April 12: Large voter turnouts across the 29 MDC constituencies during polling on Monday has pushed the overall percentage to 69.42 percent which officials say will rise further as voting continued well into the late evening hours in several polling stations across the plains belt region of West Garo Hills where a large number of voters queued in line to exercise their franchise.

Despite calls for a boycott and shutdown by pressure groups opposed to non-tribal participation the turnout was high even among the non-garo voters in Tura and the plain belt region.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma cast his ballot at Walbakgre polling station of Tura during the first part of the day, while, Mukul Sangma of the Congress cast his vote at Chengkompara polling station of Ampati along with his wife Dikkanchi D Shira, Mahendraganj MLA, and daughter Miani D Shira, Ampati legislator.

West Garo Hills district having 13 MDC constituencies registered 65 percent polling at the time of closure but several stations were yet to relay their polling figure indicating the likely rise in the overall percentage for the district.

Tura and Raksamgre constituencies recorded the lowest polling percentage of just 49.62% and 48.13% while the highest was 86.96% at Babelapara constituency where Gambegre MLA Saleng A Sangma of the NCP is contesting the MDC polls.

In Rochonpara constituency where the sitting CEM of the NPP led EC Dipul Marak is contesting the poll percentage was as high as 72.70%.

In Williamnagar where sitting Chairman of the GHADC Denang T Sangma of the NPP is seeking a return the polling percentage was only 58.8 percent. The overall in East Garo Hills three MDC constituencies is expected to cross 70 percent, informed deputy commissioner and returning officer Swapnil Thembe.

The district wise break-up of polling percentage at the time of polls closure reveal South Garo Hills at 76.24, West Garo Hills with 64.51, South West Garo Hills 76, East Garo Hills 62,2% and North Garo Hills 70 percent.