SHILLONG, Feb 26: All seven constituencies of Jaintia Hills have geared up for Assembly elections scheduled for Monday.
All the polling parties have also reached the 457 polling stations in districts of West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on the eve of Assembly elections, East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal informed that adequate security arrangement has been made in all the vulnerable pockets and polling stations.
According to him, sector officers and zonal magistrates have been adequately briefed to ensure no untoward incident takes place. “The Returning Officers will also be visiting polling stations. The entire machinery will be on its toes to ensure that the entire polling process is smooth and transparent,” Baranwal said.
He also informed that there are political rivalries in the two constituencies of Saipung-Sutnga and Khliehriat, which have 151 polling stations.
It may be mentioned that Khliehriat is witnessing a two-corner contest between sitting UDP MLA Kyrmen Shylla and NPP candidate Nehlang Lyngdoh.
As far as Sutnga-Saipung is heading for a three-corner contest between Shillong MP and Congress candidate Vincent H Pala, former sitting MLA and UDP candidate Shitlang Pale and NPP candidate Santa Mary Shylla.
Meanwhile, the DC also revealed that so far two FIRs have been filed as far Khliehriat constituency is concerned.
“We are investigating both the cases,” he informed.
Meanwhile, the DC informed that all eight polling stations in Rymbai have been designated as hypersensitive, adding that the CAPF personnel have been deployed in all the eight polling stations. “So far there is no major incident,” Baranwal added.
Meanwhile, West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner BS Sohliya informed that the polling teams have reached all the 306 polling stations in the district.
“We are hopeful to be able to conduct election process in a smooth manner,” Sohliya said.
The DC also informed that out of the six constituencies of the district, situation is a little tense in Mookaiaw constituency.
Looking at the overall state scenario, polling will take place in 3,419 booths, of which 640 have been identified as vulnerable.
A total of 323 booths across the state have been identified as critical while 84 booths are both critical and vulnerable.
More than 19,000 polling personnel have been deployed and over 500 micro observers have been trained and deployed as well.
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.
