Over 67 per cent votes polled in Meghalaya LS polls

Around 67 per cent votes were polled in the Lok Sabha elections to the Shillong and Tura parliamentary seats which passed off peacefully on Thursday.

“The elections have been largely peacefull and the poll percentage has been recorded at 67.03 per cent as per inputs received from 2,500 of 3617 polling stations,” state’s chief electoral officer Fredrick Roy Kharkongor said soon after polling ended at 4pm.

Kharshiing however said information is still being awaited from over 644 polling stations due to various reasons which include network connectivity even as he expressed hope that the voting percentage will go up after getting final figures.

In 2014, the overall voter turnout was registered at 68 per cent with over 10, 77, 948 of 15.67 lakh electorate who have casted their votes.

The chief electoral officer however said this year, 12,81,164 of 19.14 lakh voters have come out to exercise their franchise which is much higher in term of absolute numbers when compared to 2014 polls.

Giving a breakup constituency wise, he said the voter turnout in the Shillong parliamentary constituency was registered at 63.56 per cent of 11,95,662 voters, which is much lesser compared to Tura parliamentary constituency at 75.60 per cent of 7,15,707 voters.

On the malfunctioning of the voting machines, Kharkongor informed that the cases were mainly due to VVPATs but the problem was effectively resolved and polling went off smoothly.

“We have 1.86 per cent of VVPAT malfunction which is much below the pan India average at 3 per cent,” he said.

The chief electoral officer also congratulated the people of the state especially the persons with disabilities for coming out in large number to exercise their franchise.

“We would also like to compliment the madata mitra or poll volunteers who have gone an extra mile to ensure priority voting is given to persons with disabilities, the aged and infirms during the polling hours,” he said.

Altogether nine candidates are in the race for the Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies.

In Shillong, sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala is seeking to retain the seat by contesting against five others which include Jemino Mawthoh (UDP), Sanbor Shullai (BJP) and three Independents – THS Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani.

However in Tura, a three-cornered contest is on the cards with Congress leader Mukul Sangma seeking to oust the PA Sangma family from the seat held by him for over 4 decades. He will be contesting against former Tura MP Agatha K Sangma (NPP) and Rikman G Momin (BJP).

Both the seats are crucial for the ruling NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to further strengthen their partnerships in the state.

Meanwhile, counting will held in 13 centres on May 23.

By Our Reporter