Counting of votes latest updates: The counting of votes for all 60 seats has begun. In Meghalaya, the Congress has exuded confidence of retaining power while the BJP and regional parties are equally gung-ho about unseating the ruling party.
Representational image. AP
The Congress — which has been in power for a decade — had fielded candidates in all 60 seats, of which 59 went to polls. Seven of its legislators had quit and jumped on to the bandwagon of the Bharatiya Janata Party, National People's Party (NPP) and the newly floated People's Democratic Front (PDF).
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, said he was confident of increasing the number of its MLAs in the new house. "We (Congress) are confident of coming to power again for the third consecutive time," Sangma, Meghalaya's longest serving chief minister, said to IANS.
"I don't see any anti-incumbency. Instead, there is so much of pro-incumbency. People of the state have faith and confidence in the Congress," he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who visited Meghalaya twice during campaigning in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills regions, had said, "We have the people's support and I am confident we will retain power in Meghalaya."
The BJP, which contested in the polls alone by fielding 47 candidates, was also confident of winning a good number of seats and forming a non-Congress government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Tourism Minister KJ Alphons were among a host of top BJP leaders, apart from Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who campaigned in the state. "Meghalaya is also getting ready for change. People have grown wary of the misdeeds and misrule of the Congress and pinning their hopes on change," BJP's election strategist and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The NPP, an ally of the BJP with two MLAs, is hopeful of increasing the numbers as five former Congress legislators are contesting on NPP symbol this time. "People's voice is for change. We are hopeful to emerge as the single largest party in the Assembly and form the government," NPP president Conrad K Sangma said.
The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party and Garo National Council are also gung-ho about electoral victory. The HSPDP and the UDP had forged a pre-poll alliance in 36 seats in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, while the UDP had tied up with the Garo National Council for 24 seats in the Garo Hills.
"I hope people will reject the Congress, which even its own people have rejected by not contesting," UDP leader Bindo Mathew Lanong said. He said he is hopeful of the regional alliance leading in the new government.
Meghalaya recorded 84.86 percent polling in the Assembly election, state Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said.
With inputs from agencies
Published Date: Mar 03, 2018 08:46 AM | Updated Date: Mar 03, 2018 08:52 AM
Highlights
Counting of votes for all 60 seats begins
People want change in Mawsynram: Congress
Exit polls: Congress, NPP emerge as strongest contenders
According to the exit poll, Congress will clinch 36.5 percent of the vote, followed by NPP with 29.4 percent. Despite its heavy campaigning, BJP only managed 16.6 percent vote share, while the UDP- HSPDP coalition had an 8.8 percent share and Others clinched 8.7 percent of the vote share.
Click here to read the full report.
08:52 (IST)
CCTV screenshot from inside counting centre
A CCTV grab from inside the counting centre in Shillong where postal ballots continue to be counted.
Image courtesy: Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
08:51 (IST)
The trends so far
Party Lead
Cong 3
NPP 3
BJP 1
UDP+ 3
Others 0
08:47 (IST)
Huge crowd in Shillong to count trends
08:34 (IST)
And it begins...
Congress leads in one seat.
08:31 (IST)
Congress' Zenith Sangma arrives in Tura
Congress candidates Zenith Sangma (contesting from Rangsakona assembly constituency) and his wife Sadhiarani Sangma (Gambegre assembly constituency) arrive at the counting centre in Tura.
Inputs from Saidul Khan/101Reporters
08:18 (IST)
In Meghalaya, political dynasties rule the roost
Elections in Meghalaya are to a large extent family affairs. Political heavyweights, along with their spouses and scions, are fighting it out to retain power in Tuesday's Assembly elections in the hill state.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from Ampati and Songsak seats, has three family members in the fray from the Garo Hills region. NPP candidates and relatives of former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma are also fighting the polls from four seats in the region.
Click here to read the full PTI report.
08:07 (IST)
Counting for 15 constituencies to be done at JN Sports Complex, Poo, Shillong
Counting for as many as 15 constituencies will be taken up at JN Sports Complex, Poo, Shillong. Polling agents from different parties are in queue to enter inside the counting hall.
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
08:03 (IST)
Counting of votes for all 60 seats begins
08:02 (IST)
Fingers crossed for results
People in Meghalaya have their fingers crossed about the outcome. Some of the supporters of political parties have gathered at one of the counting centres in Tura.
Input credit: Saidul Khan/101Reporters
07:50 (IST)
Heavy security at counting centres
07:32 (IST)
Infographic of vote share
07:21 (IST)
People want change in Mawsynram: Congress
07:20 (IST)
Visuals outside Shillong counting centre
07:15 (IST)
Exit polls: Congress, NPP emerge as strongest contenders
According to the exit poll, Congress will clinch 36.5 percent of the vote, followed by NPP with 29.4 percent. Despite its heavy campaigning, BJP only managed 16.6 percent vote share, while the UDP- HSPDP coalition had an 8.8 percent share and Others clinched 8.7 percent of the vote share.
Click here to read the full report.