TURA, OCT 12: The district council polls concluded today in the five districts of Garo hills with at least 60 – 65 per cent overall voters turnout. The final figures will be released tomorrow, as reports from remote and hilly areas are yet to come in.
No major incident was reported.
A total of 162 candidates fate have been sealed in EVMs for the 29 constituencies of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). The counting will be held on October 15.
The total number of electorates, who were eligible to cast their votes, was 5.85 lakhs.
Congress has fielded candidates in all the 29 seats, Nation Peoples’ Party (NPP) in 22 seats, United Democratic Party (UDP) in 14 seats, BJP in six seats, Garo National Council (GNC) in three seats and 79 independent candidates.
The civil organisations and militants had called for boycott of the polls seeking exclusion of non-tribals participation. The early morning turnout was low, which took momentum towards afternoon.
Of the five districts South West Garo Hills reported a highest turnout of about 75 per cent voting. “The voters turnout was overwhelming at Mahendraganj from 3 pm onwards. The voting continued till about 7:30pm”, said Ram Singh, deputy commissioner of South West Garo Hills. “No major incident of violence was reported”, Singh added.
In Tura voting in most polling stations saw a dismal performance in the early hours. Till 12 noon most polling stations reported a turnout of 15-20 per cent. However, the turnout increased after 1 pm. The officials peg the figure for West Garo Hills at about 65 per cent.
“The turnout was satisfactory in wake of the threat and boycott. People had no means of communication in many places, which has been a barrier for the turnout. We were expecting anything between 50-55 per cent”, said Pravin Bakshi, deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills and returning officer of GHADC polls.
“Voters turnout in polling stations of Shyamnagar and Balachanda constituencies in the plain belt areas of West Garo Hills was extremely good. In remote Dengnakpara area, the turnout was 76 per cent, Jengjal 71 per cent, Naguapara 74 per cent, Rochonpara 75 per cent and Tura 47 percent”, Bakshi added.
Bakshi said that the rebel threat had posed a major challenge for the smooth conduct and they had taken utmost care to ensure that polling was held peacefully.
In South, East and North Garo Hills, turnout was comparatively lower. In many hilly and remote areas of the districts, many polling stations reported less that 35 per cent voting. “By and large the response was good taking into consideration the background (boycott call and threat by militants), the poll figures as of now is between 45-50 per cent, which may go up. Polling parties from remote areas are yet to get back to us with information”, said Cyril V. Diengdoh, deputy commissioner of East Garo Hills.
“At Williamnagar the turnout was 30 per cent”, Diengdoh added.
At 11:15 am, NPP chief and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma accompanied by his wife Soradini K. Sangma cast their votes at Walbakgre polling station in Tura.
“We are expecting about 18 seats”, said a confident Purno, while speaking to this reporter. He said that his party has post poll alliance with BJP and will stake claim to form the next executive committee in the council.
When asked, on his role in strengthening the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as per the agreement signed between A’chik National Liberation Army (ANVC) and its breakaway faction last year, Purno, who represent Tura in the Lok Sabha said, “I don’t see anything in the agreement. There was no financial or development package announcement. The minor departments, which are to be transferred are already there in the council”.
The council poll was held after expiry of the last term in February 2013. It was postponed for four consecutive times in the last one and half year.
The rebel groups, which was disbanded in December last year had inked an “agreed text of settlement” with centre and state government at New Delhi on September 24 after ten long years of its suspension of operation. The outfits had scaled down their demands from seeking Garoland to seeking autonomy for the council.
“I am pitching for Garoland. If Garoland is created, there will be no question of district council anymore”, said Purno, who seemed not much convinced with the agreement signed by the factions of ANVC and the government.
On boycott call, Purno said, “There is no provision in sixth schedule, which debars a non-tribal from voting. Even in Bangladesh, the Garos are voting and have their MP in the parliament, who is a minister”.
In plain belt areas of West and South West Garo Hills the minorities and non-tribals play a decisive role in election.
CM congratulates people
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma congratulated the people for demonstrating their assertiveness by exercising their rights. “The people’s participation despite the threat and boycott strongly indicates that people have a sense of responsibility in protecting the democratic system and have faith and confidence in the administration. Youth and women came out in large number despite the challenging circumstance”, he said.
He stated that there was a plot and conspiracy to derail the democratic system but people have defined the threat. “This shows that people have faith, trust in the government machinery”.
When asked about the prospect of the Congress forming the next executive committee of the council, the chief minister said, “We are expecting a positive outcome. It is the victory of the people, who stood the test of time”.
On fulfilling the agreement signed with ANVC outfits, he said, “It is our government which has signed the settlement agreement. We will enable that the objective is fulfilled and the council is strengthened”.
“We are continuously engaging with the centre for piloting the necessary provision with consideration of the parliament”, he added.- From Our Correspondent
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