81% votes recorded in Meghalaya by-poll

Over 81 % of the 29,488 electorate on SAturday cast votes in the Nongstain constituency in the West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya Assembly by-elections.

"The poll turn-out was 81.16 % till evening when polling was over in most polling stations," Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills District, S Kharlyngdoh said on Saturday evening. He said the election passed off peacefully with no untoward incident from all the 39 polling stations under the Nongstoin constituency.

Elaborate security arrangement was put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the polling which went on from 7 am to 4 pm. Of the 29,173 voters who came to cast their votes, a total of 14,670 are females and 14,503 males, Kharlyngdoh, also the Returning Officer, said. Four candidates from different political parties are pitted in the contest.

The ruling Congress has fielded former KHADC deputy Chairman, Gabriel Wahlang, also a nominated MDC as its official candidate, while the HSPDP has put up a close confidant of former sitting MLA, Diosstarness Jyndiang. The other two candidates included Mosklandar Marngar, who is contesting from a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket while former HSPDP leader Fenella Lyngdoh Nonglait decided to join the fray as an independent candidate.

The bye-election to the Nongstoin seat was necessitated following the death of longest serving sitting legislator, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who was also the founder of the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), on September 26. The counting will take place on November 24.