Shillong, Feb 12: A total of 372 candidates are in the fray for the Assembly elections slated for February 27.
Meghalaya chief electoral officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor told reporters here on Monday that out of 372, there are 32 women candidates and 87 Independent candidates.
On Monday three standby candidates – Innocent Phawa, S Bamon and L. Ymbon from Nartiang, Sutnga Saipung and Raliang assembly constituencies respectively, withdrew their nominations being the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers.
The 372 candidates include chief minister Mukul Sangma who is contesting from two seats – Ampati and Songsak.
Meghalaya has over 18.31 lakhs voters and 3,083 polling stations, out of which, 633 polling booths are vulnerable and 315 critical polling booths while 75 polling booths are both vulnerable and critical.
“So far, 6,391 licensed arms have been deposited, besides seizure of Rs 2.5 lakh and around 6 kgs of explosives,†Kharkongor said.
There are 67 all women polling booths and 60 model polling booths, besides 193 polling stations brought under web casting.
Kharkongor said that another 80 companies of Central armed police force would arrive in Meghalaya after the Assembly polls in Tripura, slated for February 18.
“Now we have 20 companies of Central armed police force including 10 existing companies,†he said, adding that all measures are being taken to ensure the free and fair and peaceful conduct of elections.
