Polling begins in Meghalaya

Over 12 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in altogether 1582 polling stations including six auxilliary ones in Meghalaya as it went for elections on Tuesday

Polling in Meghalaya's two Lok Sabha seats began on a peaceful note on Tuesday amid tight security.

Over 12 lakh voters were expected to exercise their franchise in altogether 1582 polling stations including six auxilliary ones.

Voters armed with electoral photo identity cards were seen proceeding towards the booths since 7 am when the polling began.

As the state government have declared a holiday to enable people to cast their ballots, the momentum was expected to pick up later in the day, official sources said.

Five candidates were in the fray for the two seats with the Shillong constituency having three nominess and the Tura two.

Nationalist Trinamool Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma, seeking re-election for the eighth time from Tura, was locked in straight fight with Congress' Mukul Sangma who is also the state's public works and information technology minister.

Congress sitting MP P R Kyndiah, who contested the polls third time in a row, is engaged in a three-corner battle with BJP's Sanbor Swell Lyngdoh, son of former Lok Sabha deputy speaker G G Swell, and common candidate of four regional parties' alliance S Loniak Marbaniang (fighting as independent).