SHILLONG: 10 May 2023 (PTI Source)
The Sohiong by-election in Meghalaya commenced this morning at 7 AM with stringent security measures in place to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. The voting will continue until 4 pm in 3,328 polling booths, of which 1,100 have been designated as sensitive and 28 as critical.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, F R Kharkongor, more than 34,000 eligible voters can exercise their franchise in the by-election. Out of this, more than 16,000 are men. Over 300 polling officials will manage the voting procedure across 63 polling stations.
The by-election was necessitated after the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate, HDR Lyngdoh, passed away before the Assembly elections on February 27. As a result, the voting in Sohiong was postponed at the time. The outcome of this election will be closely observed, as the National People's Party (NPP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) are both attempting to claim the seat.
The counting of votes will take place on May 13, and the winner will succeed Samlin Malngiang of the NPP, who won the seat in 2018 by a margin of over 600 votes. Six candidates, all men, are contesting in the by-election. The election is crucial for all candidates and political parties as the results will give insights into the general public's opinions and provide a gauge of their support.