SHILLONG/ TURA: Three stand-by candidates withdrew their nominations on Monday putting the total number of candidates for the February 27 Assembly election at 372.
The candidates who withdrew are Independent Isaiah Phawa from Nartiang, L Ymbon from Raliang and Sandinaki Bamon from Sutnga-Saipung, both from NPP.
Earlier, along with the 377 candidates who filed the nominations, Ymbon was added as a stand-by candidate and the tally rose to 378.
Later, the nominations of three candidates, Arelitha K Sangma (Selsella), Milson Sangma (Rajabala) and Serazul H Kharkongor (Mahendraganj), were rejected.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor told reporters on Monday that of the 372 candidates, 340 are male.
In 2013, there were 345 candidates, 320 male and 25 female.
In West Jaintia Hills, there are 25 candidates and in East Jaintia Hills there are 12. The number of candidates in Ri Bhoi is 33 and in East Khasi Hills there are 99 in the fray.
In West Khasi Hills there are 28 candidates and 15 in South West Khasi Hills.
Altogether 160 candidates are in the fray from 24 Assembly constituencies in the five districts of Garo Hills. The contesting candidates were also allotted the symbols.
The total number of candidatescontesting the 11 seats in West Garo Hills is 78. In East Garo Hills, which has three constituencies, there are 27 candidates, in North Garo Hills with four constituencies it is 21, in South Garo Hills with three constituencies it is 16 and in South West Garo Hills with three constituencies there are 18 candidates.
In the two prestigious constituencies of North and South Tura, the number of candidates is 19.
The Independent candidates in North Tura who received their symbols from the Election Commission are Adamkid M Sangma (auto rickshaw), Chiang D Shira (truck), Marbindruth Ch Momin (globe), Roger Benny A Sangma (blackboard) and Sengman R Marak (table).
In South Tura constituency, the Independent candidates with their symbols are Annamika Jessirella G Momin (walking stick), Jingjang M Marak (truck), Brinbal M Sangma (blackboard) and Pallab D Arengh (trumpet).
Momin claimed that on Monday morning, the Congress candidate Grithalson Arengh had approached her to withdraw the nomination and support him.
However, Momin conveyed to Arengh that she will fight to empower the new generation and make Tura a modern town.
Some of the prominent candidates from other constituencies who are sitting legislators and contesting as Independent include Rajabala MLA Ashahel D Shira (pot), Tikrikilla MLA Michael T Sangma (saw), former MLAs Abdus Saleh (Rajabala) and Sayedullah Nongrum (Tikrikilla) with the symbol boat with man and sail.
