Meghalaya Assembly Election 2023: State sees over 75% polling; NPP leads with 21-26 seats

Though Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly, polling in Sohiong constituency has been adjourned following the death of one of the candidates.

"At 5 pm, over 75 per cent turnout was recorded. In 200 odd polling stations in four districts, voting is likely to go on till 9 pm,? Kharkongor said.

Polling is being held in a free and fair manner. No untoward incident has been reported, he said.

Malfunctioning of EVMs was reported in a few polling booths but these were later fixed, the CEO said.

Voting took place in 3,419 polling stations, of which 640 have been categorised as 'vulnerable' and 323 as 'critical'.

Over 19,000 polling personnel and 119 companies of CAPFs have been deployed across the state. They have been backed by state policemen to maintain law and order, the CEO said.

NPP supremo and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is contesting from the South Tura constituency where he locked horns with militant-turned-BJP leader Bernard Marak.

Leader of Opposition and TMC leader Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats ? Songsak and Tikrikilla while his wife D D Shira is also in the fray.

The CEO also informed reporters that an Assam MLA had made a statement that ?residents of Assam? in six police stations of Mawhati constituency along the disputed border will not be allowed to vote.

However, the matter was resolved after governments of both states took cognisance of this, he said.

Enforcement agencies have made the seizure of drugs, cash and freebies which was 20 times higher this year as compared to 2018.

Seizure of over Rs 74.18 crore was made since January 18 whereas the value of drugs seized was over Rs 33 crore and the value of cash was Rs 8.71 crore. The seizure made in 2018 was Rs 1.15 crore only, he said.
 

Meghalaya Assembly Election 2023: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is contesting from the South Tura constituency, where he is pitted against militant-turned-politician Bernard Marak.

Leader of Opposition and TMC leader Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats ? Songsak and Tikrikilla. His wife D D Shira is also in the fray.

The Congress and the BJP are contesting 59 seats, while the NPP has put up nominees in 56 constituencies, the TMC in 57 and the UDP in 46.

Inputs from PTI

Meghalaya Assembly Election 2023: The ruling National People's Party is fighting to retain power while the BJP, the Trinamool Congress and other regional parties are vying to bring about a change in government in Meghalaya.

Polling is underway at 3,419 stations, of which 640 have been categorised as 'vulnerable' and 323 as critical', Kharkongor said.

Voting will continue till 4 pm.

Thirty-six of the 369 candidates are women, with the largest number of 10 being fielded by the Congress.

Over 19,000 polling personnel and 119 companies of CAPFs have been deployed, the CEO said.

Meghalaya Assembly Election 2023: "Malfunctioning of EVMs came to the fore at a few polling booths, but those were later fixed. Polling is being held in a free and fair manner," the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said.

Meghalaya assembly polls 2023: 26.7% voters exercise franchise till 11 am.

Meghalaya registered a voter turnout of 26.7 per cent in the assembly elections till 11 am on Monday, with the polling process being largely peaceful so far, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said.
Polling began in 59 of the 60 assembly constituencies in the northeastern state at 7 am, as 21.6 lakh voters are set to seal the electoral fate of 369 candidates.

"We have noticed enthusiasm among voters in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region and voting is picking up slowly in the Garo Hills, too. Long queues were seen at several polling stations,? Kharkongor told PTI.

Meghalaya election 2023 LIVE

Till 9am, 12.06% voter turnout recorded in #MeghalayaElections2023 and 15.76% in #NagalandElections2023 pic.twitter.com/m1deebRong

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

Meghalaya Election 2023 Live: 369 candidates in fray 

A total of 369 candidates are in the fray, with the ruling National People's Party fighting to retain power and the BJP, Trinamool Congress and other regional parties vying to bring about a change in the government.

Meghalaya election 2023 LIVE

#WATCH | First five early voters receive momentos to encourage early voting in #Meghalaya Assembly elections

Visuals from Tura in Garo Hills pic.twitter.com/SJJrClR6e6

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

Urging the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland, particularly the young and first time voters, to vote in record numbers today.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2023

Meghalaya election 2023 LIVE: PM Modi urges voters to vote in record numbers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged voters in Meghalaya and Nagaland to cast their votes in record numbers. Assembly polls are being held in the two northeast states on Monday. Modi tweeted, "Urging the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland, particularly the young and first time voters, to vote in record numbers today." 

Meghalaya Election 2023 Live: First 5 early voters receive momentos

#WATCH | First five early voters receive momentos to encourage early voting in #Meghalaya Assembly elections

Visuals from Tura in Garo Hills pic.twitter.com/SJJrClR6e6

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

Meghalaya Election 2023 Result Date

According to the Election Commission of India, vote counting in Meghalaya will take place on March 2. The result will be announced on the same day. The tenure of 10th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is scheduled to expire on March 15.

Meghalaya Election 2023 Live Updates

A total of 21.6 lakh voters are eligible to cast vote in Meghalaya, according to the Election Commission of India. The polling exercise is being conducted at 3,419 polling stations, of which 640 have been categorised as vulnerable and 323 as critical.

Meghalaya Election Exit Poll

The exit poll of the Meghalaya Assembly election will be aired on TV channels after the completion of the polling exercise. As per the schedule announced by the ECI, polling in Meghalaya will end at 4 PM. 

Meghalaya Election 2023 Live 

#WATCH | Voting underway across 59 constituencies in Assembly elections in Meghalaya

Visuals from Tura, Garo Hills pic.twitter.com/s70YbkZcSS

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023