TURA: Counting of votes for the Tura Lok Sabha by poll will be held on Thursday across the five districts of Garo Hills.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes, which will start at 8am, official sources said on Wednesday.
The by-election was necessitated following the demise of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma on March 4.
The former Lok Sabha speaker’s youngest son Conrad Sangma (NPP) is pitted against Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira, wife of the State Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Shira is also the sitting legislator from Mahendraganj.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor, two companies of central para-military forces had been deployed in counting centres at Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara, Tura and Ampati.
The counting will begin at 8am.
Both the Congress and NPP are optimistic about the outcome of the by-poll.
“I am positive that the outcome will be positive. I am hopeful that the people of Garo hills have given their mandate to NPP,” Conrad told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
“Let’s hope for the best,” he added.
Congress too, exuded confidence that Ms Shira will win the by-poll.
The MPCC working president Deborah Marak said that let’s wait for the results.
