SHILLONG, AUG 23: The twin bye-elections in South Tura and Ranikor Assembly seats today passed off peacefully with voters coming out in large number to decide the fate of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma and veteran political leader Martin M Danggo.
The voting percentage was recorded at 85.89 per cent in Ranikor constituency under South West Khasi Hills District while voter turnout at South Tura constituency in West Garo Hills District was at 72.89 per cent.
“The figures may rise marginally because some reports from few polling stations are still being awaited,” state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Frederick R Kharkongor told reporters at a news conference held after the polling ended in the two constituencies.
However there was a slight dip in the voter turnout in both the constituencies compared to February 27-Assemby polls held earlier this year in which the poll percentage in Ranikor was recorded at 89.5 per cent and in South Tura at 73.59 per cent.
Asked, the CEO said, “In the case of Ranikor constituency if the voter turnout is a little below the last election, it may be because of the weather condition as the sky was overcast and it was also drizzling in the morning hours.”
He however said that there was not much difference in South Tura as the voting percentage was always between 72-73 per cent adding that the present percentage was without taking into account the postal ballots.
Stating that bye-elections was by and large held in a smooth manner, Kharkongor said but there were few glitches here and there due to technical errors of four including 3 VVPAT machines and one Control Unit (CU) in Ranikor and 3 CUs in South Tura.
“These were immediately replaced and the polling passed off peacefully,” he said while pointing out that women, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and the youth also came out in large number to cast their votes.
South Tura constituency has a total of 30,231 voters including 14,846 males and 15,351 females, 33 service voters and one NRI in 36 polling stations. While the largest polling station is Matchakolgre with 1337 voters, the smallest is Leper Colony with 151 voters.
The Ranikor constituency has 65 polling stations with a total of 29,685 eligible voters including 15183 males and 14487 females. Out of these, the largest polling station is Rangthong with 817 while smallest is Nongbahjynrin-Mawthabah with only 12 voters.
With Ranikor being a constituency which is highly inaccessible, the CEO said that the election department had come up with an innovative solution by engaging 10 runners who have contributed as “living bridge” for transmitting of information in difficult polling stations.
There are five polling stations under Ranikor where runners, who are treated as ‘polling volunteers’, would have to run a distance ranging from half an hour to about 3 hours from the motorable point, he said.
The bye-elections have been necessitated following the resignations of former five-time Ranikor MLA Martin M Danggo on June 21 and NPP South Tura Agatha K Sangma on July 2, to pave way for her brother Conrad K Sangma to retain his chief ministership.
Conrad, the National People’s Party (NPP) national president and currently a member of Parliament from Tura is pitted against Congress’ Charlotte W Momin and independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma.
He was sworn in as the chief minister of the state on March 6. The NPP is leading the six-party Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
Sources informed that if Conrad wins the South Tura seat, he will be allowed to retain the MP seat for 14 days after which he would have to submit his resignation from either of the post he wishes to relinquish.
However, it is a known fact that Conrad would clinch on the Assembly seat since his decision to contest the bye-election was in order to continue to lead the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) which comprises of six political parties.
In Ranikor constituency, Martin M Danggo, who is re-contesting on an NPP ticket is battling against UDP candidate Pius Marwein, PDF chairman P N Syiem and Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma to retain the seat, which he had held for five consecutive times.
Meanwhile, the counting of votes in both the constituencies will take place on August 27.
In Ranikor, the counting centre will be stationed at the Deputy Commissioner’s complex at Mawkyrwat, the district headquarter of South West Khasi Hills while counting for South Tura will be held at the ATC, Tura, the CEO said.
Informing that there will be a 24×7 security check, he said that two out of eight companies will be retained for ensuring law and order during the counting day is maintained in both the constituencies.
By Our Reporter
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