73 per cent voting till 4 pm in Williamnagar polls

The electorate of Meghalaya’s Williamnagar assembly constituency exercised their franchise today. Over 73 per cent voting was reported till 4 pm from the constituency as people came out in large

The electorate of Meghalaya’s Williamnagar assembly constituency exercised their franchise today.

Over 73 per cent voting was reported till 4 pm from the constituency as people came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. The polling was by and large peaceful in the constituency with no incidents violence reported from any of the booths till 4 pm.

The election to the Williamnagar seat, scheduled to be held on February 27 along with the remaining 59 constituencies, had to be countermanded after Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone N. Sangma was killed in an IED blast allegedly triggered by the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) near Sawilgre village, about 14km from Samanda block in East Garo Hills, on February 18.

There are nine candidates in the fray, including Congress’ Deborah C. Marak and National People’s Party nominee Marcuise N. Marak. The seat was previously held by Deborah, who served as a minister in the Mukul Sangma government. The NCP meanwhile, fielded Jonathone’s widow Krenilla Marak in the polls.

The other candidates are Santosh R. Marak of the BJP, Mahamsingh M. Sangma of the United Democratic Party and four Independents – Sengbath Marak, Lahatson Marak, Siljohn Marak and Jan Arengh.

Counting of votes will be held on May 1. The constituency has over 30,000 voters spread across 58 booths. Meghalaya chief electoral officer said that a polling percentage anything between 70-80 per cent can be considered fairly healthy.

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