All set for Rajya Sabha poll on March 26

SHILLONG: Inspite of the coronavirus scare gripping the country, the stage is set for election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state scheduled on March 26.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said the election to Rajya Sabha is different from the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls.
Kharkongor said the 60 MLAs of the state will have to cast their vote through ballot paper.
“The voters (MLAs) would have to mark their preferences on the ballot paper indicating their preferences in terms of number 1 or 2,” Kharkongor said.
The Rajya Sabha election will be conducted through an open ballot voting, he said while adding that the voters can only use pens with violet ink to mark their preferences.
The election is set to witness a direct fight between the MDA candidate and NPP state president WR Kharlukhi and Congress nominee and former MLA Kennedy Khyriem.
While the MDA allies are confident of sending their candidate to the Rajya Sabha, the Congress is counting on the support of regional parties to stage an upset on March 26.