Press Trust of India / Itanagar Oct 13, 2009, 10:00 IST
Elections to 57 seats in the 60-member Arunachal assembly began early this morning amidst tight security.
Three Congress candidates, including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, have already been elected unopposed from the predominantly Budddhist district of Tawang.
Around 7.25 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in favour of 151 candidates.
The Congress has put up its candidates in all 60 seats.
UPA allies, NCP and Trinamool Congress, have put up 36 and 26 candidates respectively. The Trinamool Congress is contesting for the very first time in the state.
The BJP has put up only 18 candidates. Prominent candidates are former chief minister Gegong Apang who was elected seven times consecutively from Tuting-Vinkiong, Kameng Dolo who is trying his luck for the eighth time from Chayangtajo, former union minister Omak Apang from Pasighat West, debutant Pomaya Mithi and the wife of former chief minister and present Rajya Sabha member, Mukut Mithi from Roing.
All of them are contesting on Congress tickets. There are straight fights in 32 constituencies, three-corner in 12, four-corner in nine and five-corner in four.
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