SHILLONG, Feb 4: Ahead of the upcoming elections to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), three candidates withdrew their nominations on Tuesday. However, no withdrawals were recorded among candidates contesting the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections.
As per the election schedule, candidates had until Tuesday to withdraw their nominations.
The three candidates who opted out of the JHADC race are Cleofast Bamon from the Mukhla-Ummulong constituency, Hermon Phawa from Nartiang-Wahiajer, and Opaya Lyngdoh from Rymbai-Khliehriat constituency.
The nomination process for both KHADC and JHADC elections began on January 27 and concluded on Monday. With the withdrawal period now over, a total of 272 candidates remain in the fray for the elections scheduled for February 21.
Of these, KHADC will have 158 candidates contesting, including 146 men and 12 women. Meanwhile, JHADC will see 114 candidates in the race, comprising 107 men and seven women.
With campaigning set to intensify in the coming days, political parties and independent candidates are gearing up to secure their positions in the councils, which play a crucial role in local governance and administration in Meghalaya.