Campaigning ends for Meghalaya polls

The high-decibel campaign for assembly elections in Meghalaya, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to unseat the ruling Congress, ended on Sunday.

Voting to the 59 of 60 assembly constituencies will take place on Tuesday morning. The counting of votes will take place on March 3.

Election in Williamnagar Assembly seat has been adjourned following the killing of Nationalist Congress Party candidate, Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast at Sawilgre area in East Garo Hills district on February 18.

Both the Congress and the BJP have been aggressive in their election campaign this time. Leading from the front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP Chief Amit Shah and host of top BJP leaders campaigned across the state seeking votes for their party.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi besides senior party leaders including former Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi (Assam) and Oommen Chandy (Kerala) travelled across the state urging 18.44 lakh voters to vote for Congress.

A total of 361 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Mukul Sangma contesting from two assembly seats - Ampati and Songsak - in Garo Hills region in western Meghalaya.

Prominent candidates in the fray include Home Minister Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh, Information Technology Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal of the Congress, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy of the United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party Chief, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and former Union Minister Agatha K.Sangma of National People's Party (NPP).

While the NPP and the BJP have fielded 53 and 47 candidates respectively, the United Democratic Party, the Hill State People's Democratic Party and the Garo National Council -- which have forged a regional alliance -- have fielded 35, 13 and five candidates respectively.

--IANS

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