Deferred polling at Meghalaya's Williamnagar seat tomorrow

Poll preparations have been completed and polling parties dispatched to their locations for holding election at Williamnagar seat tomorrow where voting was deferred due to killing of a NCP candidate on the eve of February 27 balloting in Meghalaya.

Election officials in Meghalaya"s East Garo Hills district have appealed voters to come out in large number and exercise their franchise.

Voting at Williamnagar constituency was deferred in the wake of killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma on the eve of the February 27 last polling in Meghalaya.

"We appeal the voters in Williamnagar constituency to come and exercise their franchise en-masse. The opportunity to choose your leader comes once in 5 years and should be used fully," District Election Officer Ram Kumar told PTI today.

He said voting will begin at 7 am and end at 4 pm.

The constituency has 58 polling booths with Balsrigittim in Williamnagar having the highest number of voters (1273) while the one in village of Naregre with only 83 voters.

Notwithstanding the fact that the constituency has had the impact of armed militancy, the voters turn out in the last 2013 elections was 79.24 per cent.

Kumar said the voters turn out this time is expected to be higher following the surrendering of the Garo National Liberation Army cadres after their leader Sohan D Shira was shot dead three days before the February 27 elections this year.

Of the 58 polling stations, 16 have been kept under tight vigil and are classified as "vulnerable" for possible violence, the election officials said.

Altogether 9 candidates including a sitting woman candidate Deborah C Marak of the Congress, are contesting the elections tomorrow.