Meghalaya: Voter turnout of 67.76% recorded till 1 pm in Sohiong by-election

By-election has been progressing in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, Sohiong. As per the information, 67.76 percent of voters have cast their votes till 1 pm on Wednesday. The polling process has been more or less peaceful so far, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said.

Since morning, voters have been seen in a serpentine like queue in front of polling booths, which commenced at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm, he said.

The law and order situation is under control no untoward incidents have taken place. Some technical glitches took place in some polling booths with the EVM, which were sorted out. Overall, voting has been going on peacefully, he said.

Mementoes were handed to the first five voters, and the first time voters were felicitated and encouraged for taking part in universal adult franchise, he added.

At the model polling station, electors planted trees after casting their votes.

Voting has been taking place in 3,328 polling booths, of which 1,100 have been identified as sensitive and 28 as critical. The 63 polling stations were being manned by over 300 polling officials.

The by-election has been taking place following the death of UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh before the state assembly polls held on 27 February.

The counting of votes will take place on 13 May.

Six candidates have been in the poll fray and all of them are men. The names of the candidates are Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah of the UDP, Samlin Malngiang of the NPP, S Osborne Kharjana of the Congress, Sandondor Ryntathiang of the HSPDP, Sereph E Kharbuki of the BJP, and Stodingstar Thabah of the TMC.