SHILLONG/JOWAI/TURA: The curtains slowly descended on a lively, and often hectic, round of campaigning by all the political parties and candidates for the February 27 polls on Sunday evening.
Uncharacteristically, the last day of campaigning for the 2018 Assembly elections did not witness a flurry of frenzied activity as the atmosphere in the capital city remained more or less sedate save for a few last-minute meetings organised by parties to woo voters.
All the political parties that have locked their horns in the electoral battle campaigned for their candidates vigorously and extensively this time, trying to send their messages across to the public through public meetings, rallies and road shows.
On Sunday, however, campaigning in the city remained somewhat muted and the different strategic junctions did not exactly buzz with enthusiasm. The reason was that almost all the political parties had already organised massive rallies and meetings on Saturday itself.
Another reason why campaigning was not at its peak on Sunday was that many of the contesting candidates were busy attending the Sunday morning mass in church.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up throughout the state ahead of the polls. Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said all arrangements were in place and no major security issues ought to arise.
Meghalaya had asked for 100 companies of security forces while the ministry of home affairs has allotted 106 companies, he added.
Compared to Shillong, in Jowai the last leg of campaigning witnessed a bevy of electrifying rallies with candidates of different parties desperate to stage a last-minute show of strength.
In Nartiang, NPP’s Sniawbhalang Dhar organised a rally at Namdong village while his opponent Jopthiaw Lyngdoh, a retired IAS officer and Congress candidate, organised another at Ummulong village. Both the rallies drew sizeable crowds.
In Amlarem, sitting MLA Stephanson Mukhim held a public rally at Skentalang village while his opponent and former MLA Lahkmen Rymbai held a rally at Amlarem village that attracted a huge crowd.
Another rally was held at Saphai village by Congress candidate Nehmayah Tyngkan. Tyngkan is locked in a close tussle with two opponents, Gilbert Sten of the NPP and Robinus Syngkon of the BJP.
BJP candidate from Nangbah Lakhon Biam held a public meeting at Phramer which was attended by Union coal minister Piyush Goyal and Khliehriat candidate Justine Dkhar besides others. Lakhon’s opponent Comingone Ymbon of the NPP also held a rally at Nongjngi village.
Almost all the candidates in the Jaintia Hills concluded their campaigns with well-organised meetings and rallies.
Moonlight Pariat contesting the Jowai seat concluded his campaign with a public meeting at Ladthadlaboh Daimasi playground that witnessed a large gathering.
Meanwhile, in Tura the last day of campaigning on Sunday saw contesting candidates dashing off to different, and somewhat neglected, areas under their constituencies, making a last-ditch effort to woo voters.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from Ampati and Songsak, visited both the constituencies on the last day of campaigning. He first went to Songsak and then proceeded to his home constituency, Ampati, in the afternoon.
Tura MP and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma was at Salmanpara to drum up support for party candidate Ian Botham K Sangma. Conrad also held meetings at Mahendraganj in support of Sanjay A Sangma, the party’s candidate for the constituency.
The chief minister’s archrival, BJP candidate Bakul Hajong, who is contesting the Ampati seat, finished his campaign trail by holding meetings at Sabtoka, Betasing and Murkuti.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and NPP candidate from North Tura Thomas A Sangma covered three different areas under his constituency on the last day. Sangma held a meeting in the morning at Tura Market, then proceeded to Rongram and finally ended his trail at Ganol A’pal near Goeragre.
In South Tura, however, sitting MLA and NCP candidate John Leslee K Sangma stayed away from campaigning on the last day in view of the fact that it was a Sunday. According to Sangma, he had winded up his campaign on Saturday by holding final meetings at Matchakolgre and Lower Sunny Hills localities of the town.
The last day of campaigning was peaceful with no untoward incidents being reported from any of the constituencies in Garo Hills.
