The working president of the Meghalaya Congress, Ampareen Lyngdoh, has described the timings set by the Election Commission for campaigning for the upcoming by-elections as “pure nonsense”.
Campaigning has been restricted by the EC from 10am to 7pm.
“These constituencies (Rajabala, Mawryngkneng and Mawphlang) are distantly located and the main source of livelihood and occupation of the constituents is agriculture,” the East Shillong MLA said. “Most of the inhabitants of these constituencies leave their home between 8:30-10am for their farm and paddy fields or places of cultivation and usually return home by 5:30-6:30pm and then attend to their family and household chores.”
If celebrations for religious festivals can run until 11pm, she questioned why election campaigning had to stop by 7pm.
