Campaigning for the October 21 Shella by-poll Ends

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: Campaigning for the October 21 Shella by-poll ended on Saturday evening. The counting will be held on October 24. Polling parties have left for their respective polling stations in Shella.

The by-poll was necessitated after the untimely demise of Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28 this year.

There are altogether six candidates in the fray which includes a woman – Grace Mary Kharpuri – who is contesting as an independent candidate, Komen Laitmon is another independent candidate, son of Late Roy, Blajiedkupar Synrem of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Mosjo Rockefeller Wanswett of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Bantyngshain Ryngnga of the Congress and Joshua Warjri of the BJP. The National People’s Party (NPP) did not fielded and have decided to support Synrem of the UDP.

However, the other coalition partners in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) like the PDF and the BJP fielded their own candidates.

Political heavyweights like Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong campaigned for the UDP candidate, while leader of opposition and Congress leader, Dr Mukul Sangma campaigned for Ryngnga.

There are 58 polling stations in the constituency which include 12 non-motorable polling booths including Nongriat village which has the double-decker living root bridge.

There are a total of 29,763 votes for the bypoll – 14,809 male and 14,954 female including 127 voters belonging to the category of persons with disabilities and 7 service voters.

Dalia polling station has the highest voters– 961, while Laitduh polling booth has the least number of voters - 118.

One polling booth at Kalatek village can be accessed only by boat.

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