Shillong, April 9 (IANS) Voting for two parliamentary constituencies in Meghalaya began Wednesday amidst tight security, marking the start of second phase elections in India which began April 7, an official said.
Men and women in large numbers queued up in front of polling stations well before voting opened at 7 a.m. in the entire state. Polling ends at 5 p.m., said chief electoral officer Prashant Naik.
Meghalaya has two parliamentary constituencies - Shillong and Tura. Eight of the 10 candidates for these are crorepatis.
The ruling Congress in the state is pitted against fractured regional parties for the two Lok Sabha seats in this mountainous northeastern state, where elecrtions are to be held April 9.
Of a total 15, 67,241 electors in Meghalaya, 22.62 percent are in the 18-25 age group, while 50.43 percent are women. Among the electors, 5,86,501 voters are in Tura, divided into 24 assembly segments, while 9,80,740 voters will cast their votes for the Shillong seat that has 36 assembly segments.
In Shillong parliamentary constituency, there are eight candidates, including lone woman candidate Ivoryna Shylla, who is fighting the election as an Independent.
Prominent candidates in the electoral ring from Meghalaya's capital include sitting Congress Lok Sabha member Vincent H. Pala, Paul Lyngdoh (United Democratic Party), Shibun Lyngdoh (Bharatiya Janata Party) and P.B.M. Basaiawmoit (Independent).
However, all eyes are on the Tura parliamentary constituency where former Lok Sabha Speaker and NPP candidate Purno Agitok Sangma is ranged against the Congress' Daryl William Cheran Momin.
Agatha K.Sangma, the youngest parliamentarian in the current Lok Sabha representing Tura constituency, quit the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and decided not to contest the April 9 election to make room for her father, Purno Sangma, who had earlier represented the constituency for straight nine times and has served as a speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has called for a 12-hour shutdown from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday as part of the outfit's boycott of the parliamentary elections in the eastern part of Meghalaya.
This season of Bigg Boss 19 is quite interesting, because this time different types of contestant
Court Exempts Kejriwal in Defamation Complaint
New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) A court here Wednesday granted AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister-des
Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Will Russia Be Stopped By Sanctions
24 February 2022 - A message from President Vladimir Putin was broadcast on Russian state televis
Pakistan, trapped in the quagmire of debt, is rapidly moving towards bankruptcy. Foreign reserves
The first song of Gangubai Kathiawadi Dholida out, Alia Bhatt gives competition to Deepika-Aishwarya
The song Dholida from Alia Bhatt starrer film Gangubai Kathiawadi has been released. Alia's perfo
How concerned India is for its neighbors and friends in this era of Corona crisis can be gauged f
Vivek Agnihotri's most awaited film The Bengal Files pre-released in New Jersey. After The Kashmi
CM Eknath Shinde has given a big statement on the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra-Karn
Amit Shah, Azam Khan banned from holding rallies in UP
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) BJP's Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan have been banned fro
Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's fan Sudhir Kumar was thrashed by a policeman at the Town poli