Shillong, Kohima: Voting in Assembly elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland ended on Monday with turnouts of 77.55% and 85.04% respectively, according to the data released by ECI on its 'Turnout App'. Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements made by the Election Commission. People were seen queueing up in front of the polling stations since morning in the single-phase polling for both the States in the North East. As many as 33 lakh voters exercised their franchise.
In Meghalaya, polling was held in 59 of the total 60 constituencies, election officials said. Voters of different ages including men, women and first-time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations much before the voting started at 7 am in 12 districts.
The election officials said that they did not receive any major report of untoward incidents during the day. Some technical hitches of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported at a few polling stations. Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) F.R. Kharkongor said that a total of 369 candidates, including 36 women, are in the fray.
Around 21.75 lakh electorates, including 10.92 lakh women, were eligible to exercise their franchise in Monday's elections. In all, 13 political parties, including four having national status - BJP, Congress, National People's Party (NPP) and Trinamool Congress - contested the election.
The BJP and the Congress put up 60 candidates each, while the main opposition Trinamool Congress nominated 56 candidates, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma-led NPP fielded 57 candidates, United Democratic Party (UDP) 46, Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) 11, People's Democratic Front nine, Gana Suraksha Party one, Garo National Council two, Janata Dal (United) three, Republican Party of India two, Republican Party of India (Athawale) six, Voice of the People Party 18.
In all, 44 independent candidates also contested the elections. Polling was not held in Sohiong Assembly Constituency in East Khasi Hills district following the death of United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate H. Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh. The vote count in Meghalaya will take place on March 2 along with Nagaland and Tripura.
It is a challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the voters are going to decide the fate of its existing alliance governments in the two States. Elaborate security was put in place across states to ensure a free and transparent polling process. In Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is locked in a fight with Congress party's Seyievilie Sachu. Meghalaya throws up a contest between the ruling NPP led by Conrad Sangma and TMC's former CM Mukul Sangma. The BJP leaders are confident that their party will be able to win majority on its own unlike in the 2018 election when no party got enough numbers to form the government.
Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma campaigned in these polls. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addressed election meetings.
