MULTI-CORNERED CONTESTS; 118 SEATS, OVER 550 CANDIDATES IN FRAY
After nearly a month of high-octane campaigning, it’s now over to the voters in Nagaland and Meghalaya where single-phase elections will be held on February 27.
More than 34 lakh electors would choose their new representatives in the elections to be held across 118 constituencies on Monday– 59 each in Nagaland and Meghalaya– to seal the fate of over 550 candidates.
The counting of votes for both the states, along with that of Tripura, will take place on March 2.
In Nagaland, there are a total of 13,17,632 eligible voters, of which 6,61,489 are men and 6,56,143 women, who will decide the electoral fate of 182 candidates contesting in 59 out of a total of 60 seats. Polling will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Speaking to media persons at his office chamber in Kohima on Sunday evening, chief electoral officer (CEO) Nagaland V. Shashank Shekhar said that 11,575 polling personnel have been despatched for the election duty, where polling will be held in 2291 polling stations across 59 assembly constituencies. Merapani polling station no. 71 under Bhandari assembly constituency in the Wokha district has the lowest number of electors at 37.CEO further said that 387 all women polling stations have been set up.
Shekhar further said that over 300companies of central police force and 11000 state police personnel have been deployed at polling stations across the State.He said 720 polling stations were identified as “vulnerable”, 777 “critical” and the rest were normal.
“All arrangements are in place and we are confident that the elections will be conducted smoothly,” CEO said.
The ruling NDPP and the BJP are contesting the polls on a 40:20 seat-sharing basis. The Akuluto seat in Zunheboto district was won uncontested by BJP nominee and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi.
The Congress has fielded 23 candidates while the NPF, which won 26 seats in the last assembly polls, has fielded candidates in 22 seats. NPP and NCP have fielded 12 candidates each. Newbie in Nagaland politics, LJP (Ram Vilas) has put up as many as 16 candidates, while the RPI (Athawale) has fielded eight aspirants.A total of 19 nominees will contest as Independents.
Meghalaya: In Meghalaya, polling will be held at 3,419 polling stations across 59 assembly constituencies in the state. The voting will begin at 7am and continue till 4pm on Monday.
Of the 60 assembly constituencies in Meghalaya, 36 constituencies fall in Khasi, Jaintia Hills region while 24 are in Garo Hills region.
There are over 21 lakh electorates (21,75,236) of which 10.99 lakh are women and 10.68 lakh are male voters. In Meghalaya, the woman voters are in higher numbers than their male counterparts. There are about 81,000 first-time voters in the state.
As many as 369 candidates are in the fray of which 36 are women.
Of the total 3,419 polling stations, 120 will be all women-managed polling stations, 60 are model polling stations and another 60 will be PWD polling stations.
The Election Commission has deployed 119 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Meghalaya.
Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya FR Kharkongor said 640 polling stations are identified as ‘vulnerable’, 323 are ‘critical’ and 84 are identified as both.
Meghalaya will witness a tough contest between all the parties who have decided to go solo this time. Polling will be held in 59 out of 60 seats since voting has been delayed in Sohiong due to the death of former Meghalaya minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate HDR Lyngdoh.
Unlike 2018, the BJP and National People’s Party (NPP) have not stitched any prepoll alliance. While BJP and Congress have fielded candidates in all the seats, NPP is contesting 57 seats.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which became the main opposition party in Meghalaya in 2021 following the defection of 12 Congress MLAs, became a formidable force, especially after former chief minister Mukul Sangma joined its ranks. The TMC has fielded candidates in 58 seats.
The state also witnessed high-decibel campaigning in the run up to the polls.
The BJP showed its strength with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma holding rallies. Modi also held a roadshow in Shillong on Friday.
Rahul Gandhi, who was missing from the campaign scene in Tripura, held a rally in Shillong.
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee held public meetings in Meghalaya. TMC MP Mahua Moitra also canvassed for party candidates in the state.