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Guwahati, August 23 : Amid tightened security, voting is underway for by-elections to the South Tura and Ranikor assembly constituencies in Meghalaya.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Meghalaya Frederick Kharkongor informed that, about 67 percent voters were cast in the first four hours in the by-polls to both assembly constituencies and the voting would pick up by afternoon till the end at 5 pm.
In South Tura, around 65.5 percent turnout recorded till 1 pm, while 69 percent in Ranikor assembly constituency.
The by-election to the South Tura constituency will decide fate of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also the chief of Meghalaya’s ruling party National Peoples’ Party (NPP), is contesting from the South Tura seat in West Garo Hills district to elect to the Meghalaya legislative assembly.
The by-poll to South Tura assembly constituency has been necessitated following the resignation of NPP legislator Agatha Sangma to pave away her brother and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to contest from the constituency and being elected to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to continue in the role of the Chief Minister.
Agatha Sangma had submitted her resignation letter on July 2.
The six months period for Conrad K Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker and Chief Minister Purno Sangma to occupy the Chief Minister post will expire on September 6 next.
After cast his vote, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma said that, he is confident to win the by-poll.
I am very confident to win this election. Every election is tough. We are confident that, the people of Tura will repose their faith in NPP. All coalition partners also supported us," Conrad K Sangma said.
On the other hand, by-poll to Ranikor assembly constituency in South West Khasi Hills district has been necessitated after five-time Congress MLA Martin M Danggo resigned from the assembly on June 21.
The South Tura assembly constituency has around 30,230 voters spread across 36 polling stations, while the Ranikor assembly constituency has 65 polling stations with around 29,685 voters.
In South Tura, the largest polling station is Matchakolgre with 1,337 voters and the smallest is Leper Colony with 151 voters.
On the other hand, in Ranikor, the largest booth is Rangthong with 817 voters,while Nongbahjynrin-Mawthabah with only 12 voters is the smallest booth.
In South Tura, Conrad K Sangma is pitted against Congress’s Charlotte W Momin, Chris Kabul A Sangma and John Leslee K Sangma (Independent candidates).
On the other hand, in Ranikor, NPP’s Martin M Danggo is pitted United Democratic Party (UDP)’s Pius Marwein, People's Democratic Front (PDF)’s PN Syiem and Congress’s Jackiush Sangma.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
