SHILLONG/ TURA: None of the eight contesting candidates withdrew from the race for Ranikor and South Tura seats on Thursday, the last date of withdrawal, setting the ground for four-cornered contests in both the constituencies.
The main contesting political parties are NPP, Congress, PDF and UDP, besides two independents.
In Ranikor, NPP candidate MM Danggo, who resigned from the Congress, is banking on the newly created civil sub-division to garner votes.
Other contenders are UDP’s Pius Marwein, PDF’s PN Syiem and Jackiush Sangma of the Congress.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will campaign for party candidate Danggo on Friday.
In South Tura, NPP candidate Conrad is pitted against the Congress’ Charlotte W Momin and Independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma.
While the NPP and the Congress will contest with their respective party symbols, the book and the hand, John Leslee K Sangma was allotted the ‘table’ as his symbol and Chris Kabul A Sangma has been given the ‘almirah’ symbol.
With the withdrawal date over, candidates and their respective parties have fanned out across the urban South Tura constituency to garner support and votes for the August 23 by-election.
The Congress and NPP have mobilised their party cadres to garner support while the two independents have also begun a series of campaign meetings in different localities of South Tura.
According to NPP leaders, Conrad, who is away in state capital Shillong on official work, is expected to hit the campaign trail from August 12.
