Voting for the Gambegre Assembly by-election in Meghalaya commenced with brisk activity on Wednesday morning, registering a 27 per cent voter turnout within the first two hours, according to the Chief Electoral Officer, BDR Tiwari.
Polling began at 7 am, under stringent security arrangements across the constituency, which has seen long lines of voters gathering outside polling stations.
“There is enthusiasm among voters, and polling is picking up. Reports are coming in that there are long queues in several polling stations,” Tiwari said.
The by-election in Gambegre was necessitated after the seat’s representative, MLA Saleng A. Sangma, won a seat in the Lok Sabha, leaving the Assembly constituency vacant.
A total of 32,254 registered voters, of which 15,923 are women, are eligible to cast their ballots in the election.
Among the prominent candidates are Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s wife, Mehtab Chandee Sangma, representing the National People’s Party (NPP).
Other candidates include Jingjang M. Marak from the Congress, Sadhiarani M. Sangma from the Trinamool Congress, Bernard N. Marak from the BJP, and independents Sengkrabirth Marak and Jerry A. Sangma.
Of the 51 polling stations in West Garo Hills district’s Gambegre constituency, 31 have been identified as critical, necessitating additional security measures.
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