SHILLONG, AUG 21: Campaigning for the August 23 bye-elections to the South-Tura, West Garo Hills District and Ranikor in South West Khasi Hills District, where the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is seeking to win, ended on Tueday.
Voting to the two assembly constituencies will take place on Thursday morning from 7am to 5pm. The counting of votes will take place on August 27.
State’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Frederick R Kharkongor informed that the election campaign in both the constituencies ended on a peaceful note with no untoward incidents reported.
“The respective district election officers (DEOs) have given strict orders to close the election campaign at five o’clock,” he said while informing that political party leaders have also been asked to refrain from campaigning.
Stating that preparation for the by polls are on the right track, Kharkongor said all arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair conduct of elections and polling parties have also been asked to reach polling stations well in advance.
Asked, the chief electoral officer further informed that a total of Rs 12.86 lakh was seized from different individuals from Ranikor constituency alone.
“The matter will be taken up by the committee headed by the district deputy commissioner. These people (from where the money has been recovered) will have to prove that they are not part of any political campaign,” he said.
With regards to the violation of the model code of conduct (MCC), Kharkongor said there were only few complaints received in South-Tura constituency including the one against former MLA John Leslee A Sangma to which notices have been issued.
South Tura constituency has a total of 30,231 voters including 14,846 males and 15,351 females, 33 service voters and one NRI in 36 polling stations. While the largest polling station is Matchakolgre with 1337 voters, the smallest is Leper Colony with 151 voters.
The Ranikor constituency has 65 polling stations with a total of 29,685 eligible voters including 15183 males and 14487 females. Out of these, the largest polling station is Rangthong with 817 while smallest is Nongbahjynrin-Mawthabah with only 12 voters.
It may be mentioned here that the voting percentage in South-Tura during the February 27 Assembly polls held this year was recorded at 73.59 per cent while in Ranikor it was at 89.5 per cent.
When asked whether the voting percentage in both constituencies is expected to improve in the upcoming bye-elections, the CEO however said, “It will all depend on the weather condition. If the whether is good, we expect the voters’ turnout to be good.”
The bye-elections in the two seats was necessitated following the resignation of former five-time Ranikor MLA Martin M Danggo and former MLA of South Tura Agatha K Sangma on June 21 and July 2 respectively.
In South Tura, the NPP candidate and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is pitted against the Congress’ Charlotte W Momin and Independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma.
While in Ranikor, NPP’s Martin M Danggo will face UDP candidate Pius Marwein, PDF chairman PN Syiem and Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma.
Both the seats are crucial for the ruling NPP and the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to further strengthen the partnerships in the state.
Meanwhile, security in the two poll-bound constituencies has been tightened.
By Our Reporter
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