SHILLONG/ NONGSTOIN/ NONGPOH/ JOWAI: A total of 224 candidates have filed their nominations for elections to the KHADC and the JHADC scheduled on February 24.
In the KHADC, a total number of 123 candidates including 12 women filed their nominations.
65 candidates filed their nominations in East Khasi Hills, nine in Sohra Civil Sub-Division, 22 in Ri Bhoi District, 10 in West Khasi Hills, six in Mairang Civil Sub-Division and 11 in South West Khasi Hills District, to contest for the 29 seats in the KHADC.
101 candidates including two women filed their nominations in the JHADC with 74 in West Jaintia Hills and 27 in East Jaintia Hills District.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers was completed on Monday, which was also the last day for filing of nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is scheduled on February 12.
The finalization and publication of valid nominations and allocation of symbols to eligible candidates will be done on February 13.
Commissioning of the EVMs will be done on February 17 and 18 at the JN Indoor Stadium, Shillong.
Ten candidates including sitting Jaiaw MDC Adelbert Nongrum (KHNAM) filed their nomination for the KHADC on the concluding day of filing of nomination on Monday.
Congress candidates who filed their nominations on Monday included former HNLC man Banteidor Lyngdoh from Mawkynrew and JC Diengngan from Mawthadraishan.
The UDP candidates who filed their nominations on Monday included Grevasis Kharmujai from Mawlai, Braston Kharphuli from Mawphlang Diengei and Rynkatlang Lyndem from Lyngkrdem-Laitkroh.
The only candidate from the HSPDP who filed his nomination was Councelorsing Wahlang from Mairang.
Independent candidates who filed their nominations were Teilang Holickstar Lawai from Sohryngkham and Airmarshal Diengngan and Richman Shandiar, both from Ranikor.
Meanwhile, all four candidates passed the scrutiny from Nongstoin for the KHADC polls, which was conducted on Monday. The four candidates are Goodleaderson Nongsiej (HSPDP), Dr. Adviser Pariong (Congress), Roland Mawsor (UDP) and Tlidingstone Wanniang (Independent).
While Nongsiej is the sitting MDC, Dr. Pariong is the former MLA of Pariong constituency. Tlidingstone Wanniang is a former MDC. Roland Mawsor had contested from Mawshynrut on an Independent ticket in the last Assembly polls in 2013, but lost to his nephew and sitting MLA Witting Mawsor (HSPDP).
Dr. Pariong had lost the 2013 Assembly polls to his former mentor and HSPDP supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh by a margin of about 1500 votes.
Political analysts based in Nongstoin are of the opinion that the main fight would be between Dr. Pariong and Nongsiej. While Nongsiej has to his stride, the proper implementation and disbursal of schemes during his tenure, Dr. Pariong is being considered a young and far sighted leader.
In a recent interview with pressmen in Nongstoin, Dr. Pariong had strongly condemned the imposition of Sec 144 CrPC restricting sand mining from river banks and mining of stones from stone quarries. He had argued that it was the right of the people to earn their livelihood. “If these rights are curbed by the district administration, what will the people eat?” Dr. Pariong had questioned.
The former MLA has also been rendering yeoman services to the people of Nongstoin by distributing free medicines and treating the poor, free of cost, sources informed.
On Monday, the Returning Officer for the KHADC election declared that no nomination of any candidates from all the five constituencies in Ri Bhoi District had been rejected.
With this, the stage is now set for altogether 22 candidates, including three women, to vie for the five seats on offer in Ri Bhoi. It is also learnt that none of the aspirant candidates will withdraw from the fray for the elections to be held on February 24.
All 101 candidates who are in the fray to contest the election to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council have been declared as eligible candidates following scrutiny of their nomination papers on Monday.
In West Jaintia Hills, the Returning Officer received and cleared 71 nomination papers filed by various candidates, while in East Jaintia Hills, all 30 nomination papers were declared valid.
