Six candidates join poll fray for two constituency seats

Itagar, Dec 4: Altogether six candidates filed their nomitions on Monday, the last day of filing papers for the bye-elections to Pakke-Kessang and Likabali constituencies in Aruchal Pradesh slated for December 12 next.

      While the Pakke-Kessang constituency would witness a stiff fight between former Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Dolo contesting on a Congress ticket and BJP nominee B R Waghe, the Likabali constituency is all set for a multi-cornered contest with four candidates in the fray, including Kardo Nyigyor of BJP, Modam Dini of Congress, Gumke Riba of Peoples’ Party of Aruchal and Independent candidate Sengo Taipodia.

Scrutiny of papers would be held on Tuesday, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 7, Joint Chief Electoral Officer D J Bhattacharjee said.

Counting of votes will take place on December 24 next. The Likabali seat had fallen vacant after Health and Family Welfare Minister Jomde Ke passed away on September 4 this year at a city hospital in Guwahati.

The Pakke-Kessang fell vacant after the Gauhati High Court declared null and void the election of former deputy chief minister Kameng Dolo from the said constituency in March 15, 2014 polls, following an election petition filed against him by BJP nominee and former minister Atum Welly.

Welly had alleged that a fraudulent move threw him out of the election, for the EC had accepted a forged letter of withdrawal of his candidature, which led to election of his lone opponent. Dolo had won the election unopposed in 2014.

Dolo had won the election unopposed in 2014. Welly, in his election petition, said that withdrawal of his candidature was illegal as his sigture was forged.