Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said voting for the by-elections to three assembly seats in Meghalaya has been peaceful so far, with an average turnout of around 48% till 1 pm on Saturday.
He also said that the voting percentage is expected to improve in the second half of the day.
The CEO told PTI, “Till 1 pm, nearly 48 per cent of the more than one lakh eligible voters in the three constituencies have voted. Voting took place around noon and we are expecting an improvement in the turnout in the second half of the day. Huh.”
He said that no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
Mawringkeng with 60 polling stations recorded 44.1% turnout till 1 pm, while Mawphlang with 50 booths recorded 45.3% turnout.
With 58 polling stations, Rajabala recorded the highest voter turnout of 55%.
13 candidates are in the fray for the by-elections on three seats.
In Mawringkeng, the ruling National People’s Party’s (NPP) candidate, KHADC President Pinaid Sing Siem, locks horns with Congressional candidate Highlander Kharmalki and three independents – Asron Marvin, Arabiyangkam Kharsohmat and Norbert Marboh.
Former national footballer Eugeneson Lyngdoh is contesting from Mawphlang on a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket. He is up against former Congress legislator Kennedy C Khairim and a sitting member of the District Council (MDC) from the NPP, Lamprang Blah.
In Rajabala constituency, Congress candidate Hasina Yasmin Mandal, former MLA and sitting UDP MDC, D Shira, and three others – NPP MD Abdus Saleh, are looking to cross their swords with Kingston B Marak and retain the seat. BJP and independent candidate Carla R. Sangma.
By-elections had to be held in three seats after the death of the sitting MLAs.
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