edited by: Pritha Mallick
Last Update: February 26, 2023, 18:09 IST
East Khasi Hills: Polling parties along with security personnel prepare to leave the dispatch centers in East Khasi Hills on Sunday ahead of the Meghalaya Assembly elections. (PTI photo)
Meghalaya is set for assembly elections on Monday with candidates with unique names like Moonlight Pariyat, Sunmoon Marak, Firstborn Manor and Sunshine Makri.
Meghalaya is gearing up for elections to 59 assembly seats on Monday, with candidates with unique names including Moonlight Pariyat, Sunmoon Marak, Firstborn Manor and Sunshine Makri in the fray.
Some interesting names in the fray for the February 27 election are Moonlight Pariyat (Jowai), United Democratic Party (UDP), senior leader of the ruling National People’s Party (NNP) Coming One Yamban (Raliang), Meghalaya Trinamool Congress candidate Lasting Suchiang (Mokaiw) ), Congress candidate Nehru Sooting (Pinarsla) and BJP’s Councilor Mukhim (Mavkinru).
Other names to be named include TMC candidate Sunmoon Marak (Jirang), UDP’s Sunshine Makri (Umsing), Voice of the People Party candidate Mayborn Grace Lyngdoh (Pinthorumkhrah), former Congress MLA and current UDP candidate Process T Sokmi and Voice of the People Party. K Brightstarwell Marbaniang. Both are contesting from Mavlai.
Congress candidate from East Shillong, Manuel Badwar, is contesting from Mawphlang constituency with Shubh Lyngdoh of PDF contesting from Mawphlang; TMC’s Plaines Khivatam and Congress candidate Welborn Bynnud, both contesting from Shela; BJP’s Counselor Mukhim from Mavkinru; Congress candidate from Mawthrashan, Choudhon Lingkhoi; TMC’s Mawkirwat candidate Sounder Strong Kazi and Independent candidate Starline Momin are in the fray.
The name is believed to have its roots in the region’s fondness for English language words. Taking the BJP’s Amalrem constituency candidate Firstborn Manor as an example, he was named so because he was the first child of his parents, according to a report in NDTV.
NNP candidate Ian Botham’s Sangma was also named after the famous British cricketer.
According to an ANI report, most of the voters and candidates are from two villages, Umniuh Nongrim, a village close to the Indo-Bangladesh border in Shela assembly constituency of East Khasi Hills district. Electorate, Umniuh B has 781 electors.
Meghalaya Assembly Election
A total of 369 candidates are in the fray for the assembly elections in Meghalaya. The polling will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor has said that polling will be held at 3,419 booths, of which 640 have been identified as sensitive. A total of 323 booths have been identified as critical while 84 booths are both critical and vulnerable.
A total of 119 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed across the state for the elections.
On the eve of polling, election officials started arriving at polling stations in hilly areas. “The polling parties are trekking steep mountain paths, crossing muddy rivers, traversing difficult terrain in some areas via ropeways to reach their destinations,” Kharkongor said.
While the Meghalaya Assembly has 60 seats, polling for the Sohyeong constituency in East Khasi Hills district was postponed due to the death of UDP candidate HDR Lyngdoh.
(with inputs from agencies)
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