MAWKYRWAT/ TURA: The polling percentage in both Ranikor and South Tura on Thursday was close to that in the Assembly elections in February with the second half of the day recording maximum voting.
The latest poll percentage in Ranikor was 88.9, less than 89.5 in February. In Tura, the final percentage was 72.89 as against 73.59 in the last election.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor told media persons in Shillong that polling passed off peacefully in both the constituencies.
South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo said some more polling parties were yet to reach Mawkyrwat. “They are likely to reach very late,” she added.
With their arrival, the poll percentage in Ranikor may go up.
The voting in the 65 polling stations in the constituency started at 7am and was completed by 5.20pm. “Polling ended peacefully and only four voting machines were replaced due to error,” Laloo said.
She informed that till 1 pm, the turnout was only 46.89 percent in which the total number of votes cast was 13,953. However, more people exercised their franchise in the evening.
In the morning, The Shillong Times visited some polling stations at Rangthong where the turnout was low because of rainfall.
In Tura, there were technical glitches in EVMs and VVPAT machines at several polling stations leading to some confusion among voters. Election officials had to change the machines.
The EVM and VVPAT machines had to be replaced at Dobasipara, Chunmati and ITI Complex polling stations. Voters were agitated at Sampalgre as polling stopped due to EVM malfunctioning.
Despite the problems, a steady stream of eager voters waited in the queue. One of the oldest voters at Main Tura booth was a 92-year-old man.
By noon the voting percentage gradually began to rise. Matchakolgre polling station, which had the highest number of voters (1,358), witnessed long queues. By 10.30 am, as many as 330 voters had already cast their ballot.
Polling percentage was higher in the Araimile-New Tura area, which happens to be the time tested bastion of the NPP compelling many party workers and leaders to react with optimism about the results.
Leper Colony, despite having only 151 votes, registered the highest turnout of 92.76 percent with as many as 141 of its voters exercising their franchise. Pechon Memorial Police Public School polling station for males in Fancy Valley area of Tura Bazar registered the lowest at 58.52 percent.
The family of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma cast their ballot at Walbakgre polling station in the morning and later paid a visit to several polling stations. The chief minister was accompanied by his mother Soradini K Sangma, younger sister and former South Tura MLA Agatha K Sangma and also his wife Metab Chandi A Sangma.
Among the four contesting candidates, only Independent John Leslee K Sangma exercised his franchise.
The political fate of chief minister, Congress’s Charlotte W Momin and Independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma from South Tura, and MM Danggo, P N Syiem, Pius Marwein and Jackiush Sangma from Ranikor have been sealed in the EVMs till August 27, the counting day.