Polls in Nagaland, Meghalaya underway amid tight security

333827315-voting_6The much-anticipated Assembly polls in Northeast’s Nagaland and Meghalaya for 60-member house each began at 7 am on February 27 and will continue till 4 pm. But the voting will be held in 59 constituencies of both the states.

As per reports, Meghalaya recorded 41 per cent voter turnout and Nagaland recorded 38 percent till 11 am.

The election in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district, Meghalaya, has been countermanded, following the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathane N Sangma in an IED blast on February 18.

A total of 18,09,818 voters, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters are going to exercise their franchise in Meghalaya.  Governor of Meghalaya Ganga Prasad cast his vote at Oakland A4 polling booth at MTDC Office North in Shillong.

Meanwhile, in Nagaland, one person was injured in a bomb blast near a polling station in Mon District’s Tizit.

Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said that out of the total 2,156 polling stations in Nagaland, 1,100 have been declared critical, 530 vulnerable and 526 normal.

Talking to media, Chief Minister TR Zeliang said, “We expect that polling will finish smoothly and we will get absolute majority as per voice of the people. We hope peace will prevail in the state and we will move for Naga political solution.”