A total of 272 candidates for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils (KHADC and JHADC) have been confirmed for the February 21 elections after the nomination window closed, scrutiny of candidates was conducted and withdrawal of nominees.
There are 158 candidates for the KHADC seats and 114 for the JHADC. They will be chasing the votes of 13,08,818 eligible voters, with 9,96,518 voters under the KHADC (including 5,15,247 females, 4,81,268 males and three third gender individuals) and 3,12,300 voters under the JHADC (comprising 1,61,220 females, 1,51,079 males and one third gender voter).
The final list of valid nominations and symbol allotments will be confirmed on February 6. Voting will take place on February 21 and the counting of votes is scheduled for February 24.
There are 19 female candidates of which 12 from the KHADC and seven from the JHADC.
The National People’s Party (NPP) has begun its campaign in earnest for the JHADC election after its candidates completed the nomination process and after all were scrutinised by the election authorities.
The campaign started in Raliang constituency where the NPP’s Bison Roy Ïano is contesting.
Present at the meeting was Water Resources Minister Comingone Ymbon, state working president Octomewot Lamin, organising secretary Elad Suting, publicity secretary Lari Patwet and elders of Raliang village.
Ïano appealed to the residents to give their full support to him so that he can reach his goal and do more good work in this constituency.
Ymbon, as the MLA of the constituency, explained to the people that there should be no discrimination between one party and another but the people should stand firm on the basis of electing a leader.