The deferred poll for Sohiong constituency concluded at 4 pm today as the final voter turnout was recorded at 91.92 per cent.
Kharkongor said that the percentage was higher compared to the 2018 election which was 90.46 per cent. Male voters was recorded at 90.3 per cent and 93.48 per cent females.
A total of 34,783 voters were eligible to exercise their franchise while six candidates are in the fray. Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah of the UDP, Samlin 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.
Malngiang had won the 2018 polls on an HSPDP ticket but quit the party in January to contest from the NPP.
While polling was peaceful, the excise department made one of the biggest seizures at Mawkohtep at around 2 pm during deferred polls. Kharkongor said 1,104 litres of liquor seized ranges from IMFL and multi-brands and valued at Rs 4 lakhs.
“This is a high seizure in context of one constituency. The excise team has seized it and they will proceed as per laws and establish the antecedents,” the CEO said. The total seizure of alcohol made during the deferred polls is 1450.70 litres, he added.
Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem informed said there are eight non-bailable warrant of arrest, which were pending and those were all executed. “We had 62 people who were troublemaker bound over and 60 licensed arms in the area which were all deposited in the thana,” he informed.
Syiem said the police also had a robust communication plan in view of the loadshedding. “As contingency we covered every area especially shadow areas like Madan Bitaw. We had arrangements in place in case communication through mobile and other won’t work so every officer had VHF sets to make communication seamless,” he said.
He also appreciated the community for helping in many PS by being vigil on people giving inducement or bootleggers being around the area which helped the police.
Meanwhile, counting of votes will be held at the State Central Library on May 13.