Cong confident on winning Chokpot bypoll comfortably

The ruling Congress today expressed confidence that their candidate will win by a big margin in the June 27 by-elections to the Chokpot constituency in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who would be campaigning for Bluebell R Sangma this Saturday, said his party's candidate was having an edge over other candidates purely on performance and delivery mechanism of the government.
"Our candidate is winning the seat by a big margin. There is no doubt about it. Our government has been keeping its promises for the rural poor and this will ensure our candidate wins comfortably," Lapang said.

The Congress candidate was a widow of former legislator Mason S Sangma, who expired in 2012.
The other three candidates, including GNC candidate Kalpana Sangma whose MLA husband Clifford R Marak died earlier this year, were also in the fray.
The Garo National Council, which was fighting for a separate state for the Garos to be carved out of Meghalaya, was working tirelessly to ensure Kalpana retain her husband's seat.

National People's Party candidate Phillipole D Marak was not to be counted out from the race too. Marak trailed the winning candidate by less than 500 votes in the last Assembly elections in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Centre would be sending over 800 additional para military personnel for the smooth conduct of the by-elections in hyper sensitive Chokpot constituency.
Out of 46 polling stations, 44 were tagged as hyper-sensitive and sensitive on account of militancy.