Campaigning ends in Meghalaya

Electioneering ended today in Congress-ruled Meghalaya for the April nine elections to the two Lok Sabha -- Shillong and Tura -- seats.
The Shillong seat will witness a multi-corner contest among the ruling Congress, United Democratic Party and an independent candidate supported by two smaller regional parties while Congress will contest against the PA Sangma-led National People's Party for the Tura seat.
Among the 10 candidates, major contestants were NPP chief PA Sangma, sitting Congress MP Vincent Pala, former student leader Paul Lyngdoh and church leader PBM Basaiawmoit.
Sangma held Tura seat eight out of 10 times while Congress won Shillong seat seven times between 1977 and 2009. Since 1996, Congress candidate has consistently won Shillong seat.

Sangma was seeking re-election to the Lok Sabha after a gap of eight years. He campaigned for a separate state for the Garos, an issue which was very emotional with the tribal people inhabiting the western part of the state.
The ruling Congress, on the other hand, sought to bring in 'change' while campaigning against Sangma in the backward Garo Hills region while it promised completion of vital ongoing projects in the state for faster development.