Polls: Over 70, 50 % turnout

SHILLONG, FEB 24: More than seventy percent voters turn out to vote during the elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) while fifty percent in Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) with few reports of stray incidences that marred the polling on Monday.

About 70.8 per cent of the 6.68 lakh voters in Khasi hills and 58 percent out of 2.09 lakh voters in Jaintia hills voted to  decide the fate of as many as 212 candidates belonging to six different political parties and Independents, Commissioner & Secretary in-charge of District Council Affairs (DCA) department Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said late on Monday evening.

Lyngdoh, however, informed that the percentage of voting is the figure that he had received at 7 pm  but the voting percentage is likely to change as more information is pouring in from different parts of the Khasi and Jaintia hills districts.

Lyngdoh said information from East Jaintia hills is very slow but hoped the percentage will be much better from these polling stations located in remote areas. In Sohra, the total turn out of voters is recorded at 82.38 % and Shella at 73.95 %, he informed.

Giving constituency break up of voters turnout , Lyngdoh said, Jaiaw recorded 65% of voters’ turn out, Laban – Mawprem – 65%, Nongthymmai – 62%, Laitumkhrah – Malki – 64, Mawlai – 70, Mawphlang-Diengiei – 78, Makhar-Pynthorumkhrah-83.93, Sohryngkham – 79, Mawkynrew-75, Nongkrem – 73, Langkyrdem-Laitkroh – 75, Nongskhen – 76, Umsning – 75, Umroi – 75.86, Mawhati – 60.53, Jirang – 49.25, Nongpoh at 68.53.

Stating that polling was successful and peaceful in the state except for few stray incidences, Lyngdoh said that one major incident in Umladang polling station under Nartiang-Umladang constituency in West Jaintia hills district was reported  where a group of 30 – 40 men barged in the polling station and destroyed the voting machine.

A total of 123 candidates are vying for the 29 seats in KHADC and 89 in JHADC.

There are 14 women candidates –12 from Khasi Hills and two others from Jaintia Hills.

Lyngdoh informed that voters in large numbers queued up beyond the stipulated 4 PM in a lot of polling stations.

The ruling Congress is the only party contesting all the 58 seats followed by the UDP in 45 seats. The HSPDP is contesting in only 25 seats, KHNAM – 13, NCP – 7, and NPP – 1 besides 63 independents from both the ADCs.

Counting for the two ADCs will be held on February 27.- By Our Reporter

 

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