“Make voting mandatory”

SHILLONG, MAR 2: While other non-Congress political parties have blame money power for failing to get enough seats in the recently held assembly election, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) ascribe its failure to low turnout of tribal voters particularly in North Shillong constituency.

To get over the problem of low turnout of voters turnout KHNAM general secretary Adelbert Nongrum said the party will soon write to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make ‘voting’ mandatory for every citizen.

Nongrum said during a media conference at Shillong Press Club on Saturday, “Though many factors could have played their role, but the less turn-out of voters is one of the main reasons that led to the defeat of the KHNAM from Shillong North constituency in the recent election.”

Nongrum, who contested the Shillong North constituency, informed more than 5000 out of 14, 000 tribal voters failed to turn-up to cast their votes on the polling day.

Shillong North constituency registered the least turn out of voter with only 71 percent voters exercising their franchise on February 23.

KHNAM vice president Batkupar Wahlang felt this trend needs to be address. He said, “We will take up the matter with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and suggest that voting should be made mandatory to all citizens.”

Over 8000 non-indigenous electorate out of the 11, 000 from North Shillong came out to cast their votes on the polling day. KHNAM got slightly over 1000 votes.- By Our Reporter