Itanagar, April 8 (IANS) Over 750,000 people in India's mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh will Wednesday cast their ballot for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assembly.
Polling will be held for the state's two Lok Sabha seats - Arunachal West and Arunachal East - and 49 of the 60 assembly seats.
In the assembly polls, 11 Congress candidates, including Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and two cabinet colleagues Tanga Bayaling and Pema Khandu, have already won uncontested. Hence the polls would be held only for 49 seats.
Altogether 7,53,170 voters - among them 3,77,272 women - will decide the fate of 11 candidates contesting from the two Lok Sabha constituencies and the assembly seats in the state bordering China and Myanmar.
Of eight prominent candidates in the fray for the Lok Sabha election from Arunachal West, BJP leader Kiren Rijiju is expected to give a tough fight to sitting Congress member Takam Sanjoy.
Union minister and Congress leader Ninong Ering, who is recontesting from Arunachal East, will face the BJP's Tapir Gao.
The ruling Congress in the state had recommended dissolution of the assembly seven months before its term expires in October.
However, winning uncontested elections is nothing new to this state.
Late former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash, had won unopposed for two consecutive times from Mukto constituency in Tawang in 2004 and 2009.
As many as 155 candidates, including five women, will battle it out in the remaining 49 assembly constituencies.
Candidates from the Naga People's Front, Nationalist Congress Party and People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) are also in the fray in some constituencies.
The Congress is confident of retaining its seats.
"We are confident to retain power in Arunachal Pradesh as 11 of our candidates have already been declared winners. We are also optimistic that both our sitting MPs will retain their seats," Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro told IANS.
In 2009, the Congress won 42 assembly seats, while first-timers Trinamool Congress and NCP won five seats each. Four seats were bagged by the PPA and one was taken by an Independent.
However, the Congress tally rose to 55, after the NCP and PPA legislators joined the party along with four Trinamool members.
The opposition BJP is equally confident of returning to the Lok Sabha from the state after a gap of five years, and also of forming the government in the state.
"We are confident of winning both the Lok Sabha constituencies and securing more seats in the assembly that will help us lead a non-Congress government in Arunachal," state BJP president Tai Tagak said.
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and film personalities Raza Murad and Asrani have campaigned in the state.
The killing of Arunachal student Nido Tania in New Delhi was one of the main election issues, apart from the need for a corruption-free government, better law and order and resolution of the border dispute with neighbouring state Assam.
A survey by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch said 91 of the candidates are crorepatis - an increase of 41 percent compared to the 2009 polls.
Two polling stations - Luguthang and Mago in Tawang district, bordering China - at a height of more than 13,000 feet above sea level in Arunachal West constituency, are among the highest polling centres in the country that are perpetually covered with snow.
"Polling officials in Luguthang and Mago have been provided with snow boots, goggles, as well as satellite phones for communication," state Chief Electoral Officer Chandra Bhusan Kumar told IANS.
Of the 2,158 polling booths, 664 are inaccessible, while eight have less than 10 electors, 20 have less than 20 electors and 105 have less than 50 electors.
Malogaon booth Hayuliang constituency has only two voters.
Flying squads and surveillance teams of the Election Commission have so far seized Rs.4.16 crore in cash besides 69,503 litres of liquor worth Rs.1.22 crore.
Over 10 Percent Growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Foreign tourist arrivals grew by 10.6 percent in 2014 as compared to last year, the tourism ministry said on Monday."The yearly estimate of FTA (foreign tourist arrivals)
Earthquake in Assam: Earth shook due to an earthquake in Guwahati, Assam, people came out of their homes
Earthquake tremors have been felt in Assam's Guwahati and other parts of the North Eastern region. As soon as the earthquake came, people came out of their houses in fear. However, there is no news of
Ruckus in Jammu and Kashmir assembly over terror attacks
Jammu, March 22 (IANS) Confusion and noise marred the budget session proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Sunday as the opposition demanded a resolution over the twin terror attacks in
Muslims urged to stick to Secularism
Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Disturbed at Muslims being branded 'terrorists, separatists, oppressors and aggressors' by a section of communal forces, top Muslim religious leaders Friday urged the
Surya's brand value increased by 200%: Rs 70 lakh per day fee, can sign 10 deals
The brand value of Indian batsman Surya Kumar Yadav, who is batting brilliantly in the T20 World Cup, has increased three times. Around 10 brands are preparing to announce Surya, who plays 360-degree
World Cup 2023: New Zealand's pride broken in Dharamsala, India ends 20-year drought in ICC tournaments; These are the 5 heroes of victory
The Indian team defeated New Zealand by four wickets with 12 balls remaining in the 20th match of the World Cup 2023 on Sunday. This was the fifth consecutive win in the tournament for the Rohit
Vladimir Zelensky meets soldiers on Armed Forces Day, Soldiers meet President in Donbass
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky met with troops in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Let us tell you that on December 6, Armed Forces Day is celebrated in Ukraine. Zelensky thanked all the soldiers
MGNREGA employees' stir in Tripura hits job scheme
Agartala, March 14 (IANS) Over 2,700 employees engaged in MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme continued their strike for the sixth day on Saturday affecting its
Judiciary: President unveiled new flag and symbol for Supreme Court, said this on pending cases
President Draupadi Murmu on Sunday stressed the need to change the culture of dates in courts and make efforts to ensure speedy justice. She was addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day District
S.I Miniz said: TATA Steel, iron ore mine will resume automatically
As India is well known for his third largest supplier of iron ore in the world, but after the restriction over the past three years to curb illegal mining have prompted companies. such as: Tata Steel
