Political fates of 182 GHADC candidates sealed in ballot boxes

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The political fates of 182 candidates contesting the GHADC (Garo Hills Autonomous District Council) polls were sealed in ballot boxes. Counting of the votes will take place on April 15.

Meanwhile, the voting process passed off peacefully despite a bandhcall given by a few pressure groups of Garo Hills who are against non-tribals' participation in the district council polls.

Till the filing of this report, South West Garo Hills district recorded polling of 76.34 per cent; South Garo Hills district: 73.08 per cent; North Garo Hills: 69.34 per cent; East Garo Hills: 67.37 per cent; while West Garo Hills district recorded polling of 60.95 per cent.

Among the prominent persons who cast their votes today were Chief Minister Conrad Sangma; Tura MP (Member of Parliament) Agatha Sangma; Power Minister James Sangma; Opposition leader DrMukulSangma, his wife Dikkanchi D. Shira and daughter Miani D. Shira, and INC leader Zenith M Sangma. The Chief Minister was seen standing in a queue to cast his vote at the Walbakgre Lower Primary School polling station in Tura Constituency.

The Chief Minister -- who is also the national president of the NPP (National People's Party) -- said that he was hopeful that the party will get full majority in the GHADC. Of the 182 candidates 174 are males and eight are females.

Each of the ruling NPP and the Opposition Congress has put up candidates in all the 29 MDC seats, while the UDP (United Democratic Party) has put its candidates in 15 seats and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in 20 seats.

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