SHILLONG: The campaigning for the February 27 Assembly polls will end at 4 pm on Sunday, 48 hours before the close of the polling.
As many as 369 candidates from 14 political parties and independents are vying for the 59 Assembly seats in the state.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said on Friday that overall campaigning has been intense in the state.
He said except the aberration of killing of Williamnagar candidate Jonathone Sangma, the campaign was by and large peaceful.
After the model code of conduct came into force from January 31, Rs 69 lakh and 30,000 litres of liquor were seized, Kharkongor said.
He said the new online applications like Suvidha were used for the first time to ease granting of permissions for rallies.
Other new initiatives are introduction of VVPATs, setting up of 67 all-woman polling stations and 61 model polling stations.
There has been a record enrolment of voters prior to the polls.
“We have a registered electorate of 18,44,000 out of which 89,000 are first-time voters belonging to 18 to 19 age category that forms 4.5 per cent of the electorate which according to CEC is the highest in the country as in other states 18 to 19 are restricted to only 1.5 per cent of the electorate,” the official said.
Kharkongor said this time, the state has the highest number of female candidates in the fray as 32 of them are contesting.
According to Kharkongor, the election machinery in the state is gearing up for the February 27 polls and to ensure security, 106 companies of central security forces have already been deployed.
The maximum deployment is in East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills with 16 companies each
CS-level border meet held
The chief secretaries of Assam and Meghalaya discussed the need to ensure border security on Friday via video conferencing.
The polling parties will have to pass through Assam to reach as many as 103 polling stations in Meghalaya.
For this, assistance of Assam was sought so that there is no hurdle when the polling parties move.
The maximum of such polling stations is in North Garo Hills with 66, Ri Bhoi (22) and West Khasi Hills (14).
Restriction on liquor from Assam
Meghalaya has written to Assam to restrict the sale of liquor in the border areas of the neighbouring state.
“The purpose is to ensure that there is no disturbance during the polls in the border constituencies,” the official said.
Outside functionaries asked to leave by Sunday evening
The Election Commission has restricted the movement of star campaigners and other political functionaries from outside the state beyond 48 hours before the conclusion of the polls.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said as per the Election Commission guidelines, political functionaries, party workers, precession functionaries and campaign functionaries, among others, who have been brought from outside the constituency and who are not voters of the constituency should not continue to remain in the constituency beyond the period of 48 hours before the conclusion of the polls.
According to the Election Commission, their continued presence may undermine the atmosphere of free and fair poll.
The commission asked all political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to comply with the instructions.
“All hotels, guest houses and others are required to strictly comply with the instructions accordingly,” the EC guideline said.
