Shillong, Nov 23 (IANS): The counting of votes for Meghalaya’s Gambegre Assembly constituency in the West Garo Hills district will be held on Saturday which went to bypolls on November 13.
Following the election of Saleng A. Sangma as the Member of Parliament from Tura, which left Gambegre without representation, a by-election was held to fill the vacant legislative seat.
Six candidates contested here, and Gambegre, which has 51 polling stations and more than 32,000 registered voters, will determine their fate.
Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, wife of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and Sadhiarani M Sangma, wife of former minister Zenith Sangma are locked in a contest in the Gambegre Assembly constituency.
In addition to Jingjang M Marak from the Congress, Sadhiarani M Sangma from the Trinamool Congress, Bernard N Marak from the BJP, and two independent candidates Sengkrabirth Marak and Jerry A Sangma, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma's wife, Mehtab Chandee Sangma, is running on an NPP ticket.
A total of 33,088 voters - 16,881 male and 16,207 female, exercised their democratic rights.
A total of 3 service voters participated, while 15 senior citizens and 17 PwD (Persons with Disabilities) voters opted for home voting.
Over 90 per cent voting was recorded in the by-election in this seat.
According to officials, 90.84 per cent turnout was recorded in the 51 polling stations in the Assembly seat.
Voters gathered in long lines to cast ballots in a widely watched byelection that began early in the morning.
On the polling day, though there were a few small technological difficulties, the voting process mostly proceeded without any problems.
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) at the polling places at 21-Marapara and 50-Upper Darenggre were quickly replaced.
At the 39-Rongkon Songital LPS polling booth, a VVPAT was also replaced.
According to Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari, strict security measures were in place when voting started at 7 AM.
He earlier said, “Voters are enthusiastic, and polling is increasing. There are huge lines at a number of polling places, according to reports.”