Polling begins for Meghalaya Assembly

A total of 12,32,907 voters will decide the fate of 331 candidates in the eighth Meghalaya Assembly polls.

Polling for the eighth Meghalaya Assembly began at 7 am on Monday amidst heavy security.

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A total of 12,32,907 voters will exercise their franchise. Interestingly, the number of women electors are 20,000 more than that of men as per the final voters' list.

Six former chief ministers - D D Lapang, Purno A Sangma, Salseng C Marak, EK Mawlong, FA Khonglam and JD Rymbai - are contesting.

In all 331 candidates are in fray. Congress is contesting on all 60 seats while the United Democratic Party came close with 52 candidates. The Nationalist Congress Party has fielded 50 candidates. There are 73 Independents.

Electronic voting machines equipped with specially Braille-code buttons and special ramps for physically challenged persons have been arranged in the polling stations.

A 15,000-strong force of polling personnel has been assigned election duties in 1,599 polling stations across the state. Thirty-nine poll observers and 117 magistrates are overseeing the smooth conduct of the polling.