Meghalaya Chief Minister and National President of NPP, Konrad K Sangma filed his nomination papers for the upcoming assembly elections in Tura on 4 February. (Image: PTI/File)
Meghalaya’s Chief Electoral Officer said that out of 375 valid nominations, 339 are male candidates and 36 are female.
“There are 339 male candidates, while the number of female candidates is 36,” Kharkongor said.
He said: “Four nominations (three men and one woman) were found invalid – three candidates in East Jaintia Hills and one in West Jaintia Hills – as they were considered dummy candidates. Three of them are from NPP and one from UDP. “
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, the maximum number of candidates who filed nominations were from East Khasi Hills followed by West Garo Hills.
Tuesday (February 7) was the last day for filing nominations, after which all 60 sitting MLAs, including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma, filed their papers for re-election, Kharkongor said.
Conrad Sangma, who is the president of the NPP, will once again contest from the South Tura constituency in West Garo Hills district.
UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh is seeking re-election from Mairang constituency in East West Khasi Hills district.
Former CM Mukul Sangma, who was elected as Congress candidate in 2018 election, is contesting as TMC candidate from two seats this time – Songsak in East Garo Hills and Tikrikila in West Garo Hills.
BJP MLAs Sanbor Shullai and AL Hek are seeking re-election from South Shillong and Pinthorumkharah constituencies in the state capital.
Congress MP Vincent H Pala, who is also the state president, has filed his nomination papers from Satanga-Saipung constituency in East Jaintia Hills district.
The CEO said regional party leaders – Bentidore Lyngdoh of the People’s Democratic Front, Ardent Basaivamoit of the Voice of the People, Martel Mukhim of the Hills State People’s Democratic Party – have also submitted nomination papers.
The last date for withdrawal of nomination is February 10. Elections will be held on February 27 and after that the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
(With PTI inputs)
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