Shillong: Campaigning for the Meghalaya assembly polls came to a close on Saturday evening with 21.4 lakh voters casting their ballot to elect 59 members of the 11th assembly.
Voting to the 59 of 60 assembly constituencies will take place on Monday morning (February 27). The counting of votes will take place on March 2.
Election in Sohiong Assembly constituency seat has been adjourned following the death of former Home Minister and United Democratic Party candidate, Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh due to
massive cardiac arrest on February 21.
Meanwhile, polling parties have been dispatched today to the 3419 polling stations across 59 assembly constituencies in the state.
“In South Garo Hills, the first polling party left early to reach Rongcheng polling station where they will need to trek 8 km to reach the polling station from the last motorable point,” Chief Electoral Officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.
“Polling personnel are crossing rivers, marshes and climbing hills and ravines to reach their destinations. They are using sturdy traditional Khasi baskets (Khohs) to carry EVMs and polling materials across steep hilly pathways and slopes in Sohra Civil Sub Division,” he said.
Orders under section 144 Cr.P.C. have been promulgated in all the districts prohibiting campaign and publication or broadcast of exit polls till the end of the election process.
Stating that transmission of Short Messages Services (SMS) might be made by certain individuals either in favour or against any political party or candidate and news channels, various social media platforms and other means of communications might carry exit poll news items prohibitory orders have been issued in all the districts banning “indiscriminate use of short messages services in bulk campaigning in favour or against any political party or candidate, news items in any form carrying exit poll by any news channel or other social media platforms”.
The 443 km India-Bangladesh border that Meghalaya shares with the neighbouring country has been sealed to prevent any kind of illegal cross border movement before and during the elections.
In the run-up to the elections, the state was marred by en-masse defections from the opposition Congress party. Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma led a pack of 11 legislators merged with the Trinamool Congress and was recognised as the main opposition party in the Meghalaya Assembly.
The TMC is hopeful to unseat the National People’s Party (NPP) after a fierce electoral battle.
The Congress which ruled Meghalaya since the inception of the state in 1972 is facing an uphill task especially after five of its legislators parted ways and joined the NPP and the state’s main regional political party, the United Democratic Party (UDP)
Nonetheless, the Congress party has fielded its candidates in all 60 assembly seats with 47 of them are fresh blood and below the age of 45 and 10 of them are women candidates.
Unlike in the previous assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded its candidates in all the 60 assembly seats and hopeful of a double-digit and to lead a BJP-led government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road-show at the State capital and public meeting at Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills district on Friday to drum up support for the BJP. Several other big guns of the BJP including Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president, JP Nadda also campaigned in the state.
NPP president and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma concluded his campaign for the coming election to the 11th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly by addressing a public meeting at Tura on Saturday evening.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led the campaign along with her party leaders Abhishek Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, Derek O Brian and others.
Most of these star campaigners focused on fighting corruption in the state and also provided employment opportunities. Political parties leveled charges and counter charges against each other during the campaign period.
Altogether 369 candidates, including 36 women candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Conrad Sangma seeking relection from South Tura assembly seat, while Leader of Opposition and TMC leader Dr. Mukul Sangma is contesting from two assembly seats – Songsak and Tikrikilla – in Garo Hills region in western Meghalaya.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Depiuty Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong (NPP), Assembly Speaker and UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui (UDP), former Assembly Speakers — Abu Taher Mondal (NPP), Charles Pyngrope (TMC), Bindo Mathew Lanong (Independent), former BJP Minister Alexander Laloo Hek, People’s Democratic Front Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh Mawphlang, Voice of the People Party president, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and former Union Minister and State Congress party president Vincent H Pala.
In the last elections the Congress was the single largest party with 21 seats followed by the NPP with 20. The UDP won 6 seats.
The opposition Trinamool Congress has 56 candidates, NPP has 57 candidates, UDP 46, HSPDP 11, PDF nine, Gana Suraksha Party one, Garo National Council two, Janata Dal (United) three, Republican Party of India two, Republican Party of India (Athawale) six and VPP18. Also 44 independent candidates are vying for seats in different constituencies.
