AMN
The Election Commission has said that advance planning, use of technology and strict monitoring have ensured largely peaceful elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland.
Polling for the Assembly elections of Meghalaya and Nagaland was held today across 59 Assembly Constituencies each in the two States.
Polling for Sohiong Assembly Constituency in Meghalaya was adjourned due to the death of one of the contesting candidates while Akuluto Constituency in Nagaland remained uncontested with only one candidate and therefore, no Poll was required there. The Commission said that polling across three thousand 419 polling stations in Meghalaya and two thousand 291 stations in Nagaland went off peacefully today with no repoll reported in any of the polling stations.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar complimented and expresses gratitude to all voters and polling personnel for their momentous efforts in ensuring peaceful elections. Mr Kumar also complimented and acknowledged the momentous efforts of polling teams who travel through such difficult terrains to ensure no voter is left behind. Due to the unfortunate demise of one of the polling officials in the West Garo Hills district in a road accident while on duty, the Election Commission granted an ex-gratia of 15 lakh rupees.
The Election Commission’s thrust on inducement-free elections led to sustained efforts for election expenditure monitoring. Both States witnessed record seizures this time, which far surpassed the seizures made in the Assembly Elections 2018. Over 23 fold increase in seizures as compared to the last Assembly elections was witnessed. The total seizures till today in the three states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura amounts to around 170 crore rupees. Voting was also held today for by-polls in one Assembly Constituency each in Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Polling for Tripura Assembly took place on the 16th of February in a largely violence-free and peaceful manner.