Kharlukhi likely to be MDA candidate
SHILLONG: Election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state will be held along with other 54 seats across 17 states on March 26.
The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that both polling and the counting will take place on March 26. The seats will fall vacant in April due to retirement of members.
The term of the present Rajya Sabha member Wansuk Syiem would end on April 12.
Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer Frederick R. Kharkongor said that the voting for the election of the lone Rajya Sabha seat will be held in old Assembly campus at Khyndailad.
Election will be through open ballot and the MLAs will have to show their ballot papers after voting to their respective party representatives for the sake of transparency.
Kharkongor said violet pen will be used by the voters during the election.
The official said the timing of voting is from 9 am to 4 pm and added the counting of votes will begin an hour after conclusion of poll.
According to the Election Commission of India, the notification for the election will be issued on March 6 while the last date to file nominations is on March 13.
The scrutiny will take place on March 16 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 18.
The NPP wanted its state president WR Kharlukhi to contest the seat and according to party sources, Kharlukhi has agreed to be in the fray after party leaders convinced him even though he wanted to be in state politics.
Sources said the NPP will hold discussion with the MDA partners regarding Kharlukhi’s candidature.
On the other hand, Congress leader Mukul Sangma on Tuesday said that he cannot comment on the matter since a final decision regarding the election will be taken by the party as a whole.