The stage is set for the deferred election to Sohiong Assembly constituency tomorrow.
Polling will begin at 7 am and continue till 4 pm on Wednesday. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Frederick Roy Kharkongor said there are 34,783 voters of which 17,096 are males and 17, 687 are females, who will exercise their franchise in 63 polling stations to be manned by over 300 polling officials.
Five companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed for area domination and security and officials have categorised six vulnerable polling stations. There are 12 vulnerable hamlets in these polling stations, he added.
As was done for the rest of the state, webcasting will be a feature of the Sohiong poll, with 60 per cent of the polling stations monitored online, he said.
In the model polling station at Nongpathaw, Kharkongor said for the first time, the voters will be planting tree saplings to promote eco-friendly and green polling station.
“Hundred tree saplings will be planted by the voters as a message to plant the seed of democracy,” he added.
Polling in Sohiong was adjourned after the demise of United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate HDR Lyngdoh on February 20, one week before the state elections.
The CEO further said they are hopeful that 90 per cent will vote. “Historically, Sohiong has always voted 90 per cent and we hope this time also the voting percentage will be high.”
Votes will be counted on May 13.
Campaigning for the Sohiong seat saw an intense war of words between Meghalaya Democratic Alliance partners the National People’s Party (NPP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).
There are six candidates are in the fray for the seat – Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah of the UDP, Malngiang of the NPP, S Osborne Kharjana from Congress, Sandondor Ryntathiang of the HSPDP, Seraph E Kharbuki of the BJP, and Stodingstar Thabah from the Trinamool Congress.
