Guwahati: The two northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland voters will decide the destiny of the candidates on Monday after high-voltage campaigns.
The voting has started in both states at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.
More than 21 lakh (21,75,236) voters in Meghalaya including 10.99 lakh women and 10.68 lakh men will choose amongst 369 candidates.
There are roughly 81,000 first-time voter in the state.
3,419 polling locations throughout 59 Assembly seats in the state will conduct voting.
Of Meghalaya’s 60 Assembly districts, 36 are in the Khasi, Jaintia Hills region and 24 are in the Garo Hills region.
As many as 369 candidates are in the fray of which 36 are women. And 44 of the total number of candidates are contesting as Independents.
The anti-incumbency factor may be a challenge for the incumbent National People’s Party (NPP), which is vying for reelection.
The current term of the 60-seat Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will conclude on March 15.
The threshold for forming a majority in the state is 31.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was able to gain two seats in the 2018 Assembly elections, while Congress won 21 seats and the National People’s Party (NPP) won 19. Six seats were won by the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Despite the fact that the Congress was the single-largest party, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by the NPP was able to create the government with the help of the UDP, BJP and other local parties.
This time, the BJP and NPP are running independently without forming a pre-election coalition. Both the BJP and the Congress have put forth candidates for each seat. Following the defection of 12 Congress MLAs in 2021, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which then held the position of primary opposition party in Meghalaya, grew in strength, especially after former chief minister Mukul Sangma joined the party. In 58 seats, TMC fielded candidates.
Chief minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma is contesting in the South Tura constituency whereas Bernard N. Marak the candidate of the BJP is running against the NPP leader. In Dadenggre, Congress candidate Chesterfield Sangma is contesting against NPP’s James Sangma.
Former CM Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats — Tikrikilla and Songsak on Trinamool’s ticket. UDP leader Metbah Lyngdoh is contesting from Mairang. Further, NPP pitted Prestone Tynsong from Pynursla. UDP candidate Titosstar Well Chyne is contesting from Sohra.
The TMC has fielded Charles Pyngrope from Nongthymmai. BJP fielded Sanbor Shullai in South Shillong and Ernest Mawrie in West Shillong. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh is the NPP’s candidate from East Shillong.
In Pynthorumkhrah, BJP fielded Alexander Laloo Hek. UDP leader Lahkmen Rymbui is contesting from Amlarem. In Sutnga Saipung, Congress fielded Vincent H Pala. UDP candidate Kyrmen Shylla is contesting from Khliehriat.
Parties displayed their full strength when it came to campaigning, from the NPP to the BJP and Congress to Trinamool. No one was on the back foot whether it was making poll pledges or using slogans to attack rival forces.
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have 119 companies on the ground in Meghalaya thanks to the Election Commission.
Chief Election Officer for Meghalaya FR Kharkongor reported that 640 voting places have been classified as “vulnerable,” 323 as “critical,” and 84 as both.
However, BJP has already established itself in Nagaland ahead of the election as Kazheto Kinimi a party candidate won the Akuluto seat without opposition when the Congress candidate withdrew.
There will now be a total of 183 contestants running in the Nagaland Assembly elections following Khekashe Sumi’s departure from the race.
The candidates vying for the State polls include 20 from BJP, CPI (1), INC (23), NCP (12), NPP (12), NDPP (40), NPF (22), RPP (1), JD (U) (7), LJP (Ram Vilas) (15), RPI (Athawale) (9), RJD (3), and Independent (19).
It’s important to note that only four of the 183 candidates running this time are female. 14 Assembly elections have taken place in Nagaland since it was founded in 1963, however there has never been a female Legislator.
13,17,632 voters will exercise their right to vote to determine the fate of political parties and to choose their representatives for the 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly and 6,61,489 will be male voters and 6,56,143 female voters.
The counting of votes in both the states will be on on 2nd March.