TURA: A 72.87 percent polling has been registered for South Tura in the by-election that took place on Thursday with no untoward incidents being reported from any of the poll bound areas of the prestigious constituency.
The poll percentage has this time witnessed a dip of one percent in comparison to the February general elections to the Meghalaya Assembly where South Tura registered 73.59 percent.
The political fate of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Congress’ Charlotte W Momin and Independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma have been sealed in the EVMs from 36 polling stations.
There were a series of technical glitches on EVMs and VVPAD machines at several polling stations as polls opened in the morning at 7 O’clock leading to some confusion among voters, initially. Election officials had to change the EVM and VVPAD machines at several polling stations due to the problem.
The entire EVM and VVPAD machines had to be replaced at Dobasipara, Chunmati and ITI complex polling stations at the start of voting due to the glitches. There were moments of anger among voters at Sampalgre as voting got stalled due to the EVM malfunction at the start of the day.
Despite the glitches a steady stream of eager voters stood in line at various polling stations to cast their ballot. One of the oldest voters to come to the polling station and exercise his franchise was a 92 year old gentleman in main Tura.
By noon the voting percentage gradually begun to rise with no further reports of EVM malfunctions. Matchakolgre polling station which happen to have the highest number of votes (1358) witnessed long queues of eager voters standing in line to exercise their franchise. Barely 10:30 in the morning and as many as 330 voters from the over one thousand strong voters list had already cast their ballot.
It was noticeable that polling percentage was higher in the Araimile-New Tura region which happen to be the time tested bastion of the NPP compelling many party workers and leaders to react with optimism of the upcoming results.
In terms of voter turnout percentage, Lepers colony, despite having only 151 votes, registered the highest turnout of 92.76 percent with as many as 141 of its voters exercising their franchise, whereas Pechon Memorial Police Public School polling station for males in Fancy Valley area of Tura Bazar registered the lowest at 58.52 percent.
The family of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma cast their ballot at Walbakgre polling station in the morning and later paid a visit to several polling stations to see the turnout. The chief minister was accompanied by his mother and wife of Late P A Sangma, Mrs Soradini K Sangma, younger sister and former South Tura MLA Agatha K Sangma and also his wife Metab Chandi A Sangma.
Among the four contesting candidates only Independent John Leslee K Sangma exercised his franchise at the LGB school polling station in Babupara. The chief minister’s EPIC card is registered at Selsella while Congress’ Charlotte Momin and Independent Chris Kabul A Sangma belong to North Tura constituency.
Meanwhile, in Ranikor constituency of South West Khasi Hills polling percentage crossed the 81.45 percent before polls came to a close. Election officials are expecting the percentage to rise further but remain doubtful if it will overtake the February polls in which Ranikor registered a staggering 89.5 percent polling.
The polls in Ranikor is being seen as a close fight between NPP’s Martin Danggo and UDP’s Pius Marwein.