Over 77% votes polled in M’laya bypolls

SHILLONG: Over 77 per cent votes were polled in the bypolls to two Assembly seats in Meghalaya which passed off peacefully on Thursday, Chief Election Officer (CEO) for the state F R Kharkongor said.

The South Tura constituency, from where Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is in the fray, witnessed 72.89 per cent of the 30,231 voters exercising their franchise. In the Ranikore seat, 82.1 per cent of the 29,685 voters cast their votes, the CEO said. The results of the bypolls will be declared on August 27.

Sangma, currently a member of Parliament from Tura, is contesting from the South Tura seat in West Garo Hills district on a ruling National People’s Party (NPP) ticket to enter the state Assembly.

The son of former chief minister Purno Sangma, Conrad Sangma became the chief minister on March 6 with the support of other regional parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The South Tura Assembly seat was vacated by Conrad Sangma’s sister Agatha Sangma for him. Agatha Sangma is likely to contest next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

Conrad Sangma, the NPP chief, is up against Charlotte W Momin of the Congress and Independent candidates John Leslee K Sangma, who is a former MLA, and Chris Kabul A Sangma. But, the chief minister seems to be comfortably placed, considering the fact that the constituency is his family stronghold. The Ranikor seat fell vacant after fivetime Congress MLA Martin K Danggo resigned to contest as an NPP candidate. The bypoll for this seat assumes significance as the two regional allies of the NPP -- the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) -- have fielded candidates against Danggo.