SHILLONG/AMPATI, Feb 25: The one-and-half month high decibel campaigning has finally come to an end, and starting 4 pm of Saturday, the state has entered the 48-hour silence period.
The state’s Election department directed all political parties and candidates of all 60 Assembly constituencies to compulsorily stop campaigning in any form by 4 pm of Saturday without fail.
The order was issued by various District Election Officers in strict compliance with the Election Commission of India.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Frederick Kharkongor said the campaign ended at 4 pm without any major law and order issues.
The polling will be held on February 27 and the votes will be counted on March 2.
Out of the total 60 seats in the state, election to Sohiong constituency has been adjourned due to the untimely death of UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh.
More than 19,000 polling personnel have been deployed and over 500 micro observers have been trained and deployed as well.
Around 2,000 polling stations will be under webcast and all vehicles carrying EVMs are being tracked via GPS. “We are using technology to quite an extent for monitoring the movement and overall monitoring of the election process,” said Kharkongor.
Concerning home voting, the CEO said that 3,500 plus applications were received from citizens above 80 years and 1800 plus applications from persons with disabilities. Close to 60-70% have exercised their vote through home voting he informed.
The ECI in the state hopes to touch 90% turnout this elections since polls will be conducted in 59 seats.
Last turnout in 2018 was 86.90 % which is quite high by national standards compared to other states.
Polling will take place in 3,419 booths, of which 640 have been identified as vulnerable. A total of 323 booths have been identified as critical while 84 booths are both critical and vulnerable, according to the CEO.
A total of 119 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed across the state for the elections, he added.
Fifty-three observers — 20 general observers, 21 expenditure observers and 12 police observers — are on the job to ensure that the elections are free, fair and peaceful, Kharkongor said. Many candidates and leaders of various political parties tried to woo voters one last time before the 48-hour silence period on Saturday.
Politicians who addressed rallies include Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Metbah Lyngdoh, Mahua Moitra, Derek O Brien and Smriti Irani.
Meanwhile on the first day of movement of polling personnel, South West Garo Hills saw the departure of 40 polling parties for their respective polling stations.
Three polling parties under Ampati, 13 under Mahendraganj and 24 under Salmanpara constituency made their way to their respective polling stations in South West Garo Hills from Ampati on the first day of movement of polling personnel.
The district has 158 polling stations and with polling personnel having moved to the 40 polling stations on the first day, rest of the 118 polling parties will make a move on the second day.
