Campaigning for bye-elections ends in Meghalaya

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Campaigning for the bye-elections to three assembly constituencies in the State ended on Wednesday. Bye-elections will be held for Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala on October 30 and counting will be held on November 2. The bye-elections were necessitated after the sitting legislators expired earlier in this year.

Two of these seats - Mawryngkneng and Rajabala – were held by Congress candidates David Nongrum and Azad Zaman respectively. Mawphlang was held by SK Sunn, an independent candidate who later became an associate member of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

For the Mawryngkneng seat the Congress has fielded Highlander Kharmalki and others in the fray are Pyniaid Sing Syiem of the National People's Party (NPP), Esron Marwein, Norbert Marboh and Arbiangkam Kharsohmat all independents.

In Mawphlang there are three candidates, footballer Eugeneson Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party (UDP), former MLA Kennedy Khyriem of the Congress and KHADC, MDC, Lamphrang Blah from the NPP.

Meanwhile, in Rajabala constituency there are five candidates – Ashahel D. Shira (UDP), Kingstone B. Marak (BJP), Carla R. Sangma (Independent), Hashina Yasmin Mondal (Congress) bad Abdus Saleh (NPP).

The State election department has identified 48 vulnerable polling stations in the three constituencies of Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala. Also four companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Force, Home Guards and state police are being deployed as part of security arrangements. The Election Department is also taking measures to ensure the polling is held with COVID-19 protocol.

Also Read: Women outnumber men in bypolls to three Meghalaya Assembly seats

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