Bypolls campaign ends in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 27, 2021

Campaign for the bye-elections to the three Assembly seats – Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala, ended on Wednesday at 4 pm.

Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said that the campaign ended today and due to the COVID-19 situation, the Election Commission has decided that the ‘silence period’ should start 72 hours before the polls.

“It is not 48 hours as it used to be. This is basically to ensure there is less exposure and there is less risk to the people,” he said.

When asked, the CEO admitted that there has been violation of the COVID-19 protocols during the election campaigning in all the three constituencies citing that “people are yet to get use to protocols and still think that it is pre-pandemic…”

He however informed that steps have been taken by the department whenever information about cases of extreme violation was received.

He added that like in Rajabala, the CEM of the GHADC Bennedict R Marak was restrained from further campaigning.

“Show cause notices have also been issued to many candidates in Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang for violation of COVID timings,” Kharknogor said.

As per ECI regulation in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, only 1,000 people are allowed for star campaigners and 500 people for non-star campaigners.

However, people are seen crowding the venues of the election rallies held in the different parts of the three constituencies despite clear instructions have been given to all political parties.

Kharkongor on the other hand said that COVID-19 protocols in fact have also been issued by the District Disaster Management Authority where the DCs are themselves chairmen.

“Even FIRs can be filed by the chairmen of DDMA but that is not for me to say,” he added

Stating not all political leaders are violating the COVID protocols, Kharkongor also expressed appreciation that some of the star campaigners have behaved very responsibly and have set good examples to the people during the campaigning.

A total of 13 candidates are in the fray for the bypolls to the three seats.

Five candidates each will be contesting from Mawryngkneng and Rajabala constituencies while 3 from Mawphlang constituency.

In Mawryngkneng, KHADC chairman and Sohryngkham MDC Pyniaid Sing Syiem from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) will be contesting against the opposition Congress nominee Highlander Kharmalki and three Independent candidates – Esron Marwein, Arbiangkam Kharsohmat and Norbert Marboh.

SK Sunn’s son Eugeneson Lyngdoh, a football star, from the United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket, is pitched against two seasoned politicians – former MLA Kennedy C Khyriem of the Congress and four-time MDC Lamphrang Blah of the NPP – from the Mawphlang constituency.

As far as Rajabala constituency is concerned, Dr Zaman’s wife Hashina Yasmin Mondal will contest to retain the Congress seat against former legislator and currently sitting MDC of Batabari Ashahel D Shira from UDP and three others – MD Abdus Saleh from NPP, Kingston B Marak (BJP) and Carla R Sangma (Independent).

Over 1 lakh voters are all set to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming bypolls.

Mawryngkneng with 60 polling stations has a total of 36,751 voters while Mawphlang with 50 polling stations has 33,194 voters and Rajabala with 58 polling stations has 32,750 voters. 

The date for counting has been fixed on November 2.