Shillong Oct 21: Shella constituency that went to bye election on Monday recorded a turnout of 84.56 per cent as voters sealed the fate of six candidates inside the electronic voting machines and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs).

Shella has a total of 29,790 electorates, out of which, 25,191 of them exercised their right to franchise in 58 polling stations across the constituency with mixed population.

The voting was held from 7 am to 5 pm without any hiccups, malfunctioning of a voting machine at Laitïam polling station due to technical problem. The machine was later replaced and the voting resumed smoothly.

“People came out in large numbers to cast their vote with a turnout of 84.56 per cent,” Chief Electoral Officer, F. R. Kharkongor told reporters on Monday evening.

He said that barring bad weather, the voting was peaceful and successful.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, 86.40 per cent voters’ cast their vote in Shella constituency.

In this bye election, Kharkongor said that the number of men is more than women who cast their vote, which comprised of 12,631 men and 12,560 women.

Tynriang polling station registered the highest poll percentage at 92.92, while MeSEB-MCCL polling booth recorded the lowest poll percentage at 47.37.

The bye election to Shella constituency was required following the death of sitting MLA Donkupar Roy on July 28. Roy had represented the constituency for 31 years for seven consecutive terms since 1988.

Six candidates are in the fray including the lone woman candidate, Grace Mary Kharpuri, who contested as an Independent candidate.

The other candidates include, Donkupar’s son Balajied Synrem of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Congress candidate, Batyngshaiñ Ryngnga, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Mosjo Wanswet, Independent candidate, Komen Laitmon and BJP candidate Joshua Warjri.

The CEO said that no cash was seized till the polling day, except seizure of about 823.67 litres of liquor worth over Rs 1 lakh.

He also informed one technology, Skylo was used in polling stations which are out of network, and the technology has really helped the polling officials in sharing their information through text messages.

Kharkongor informed now preparations have been geared up for the counting day at Sohra on Thursday.

“We have retained one company of CAPF and the personnel is being deployed in the strong room,” he said.

As it was during the voting, a three-tier security arrangement is being made for the counting as well.