Shillong Oct 19: Six polling parties on Saturday left for their respective polling stations two days before the voting for the bye election to Shella Assembly constituency, as the polling booths are not connected by roads.

The polling parties moved to their respective polling booths on the last day of the campaign for the bye election.

The voting will be held in 58 polling stations on Monday, and counting of votes will take place on Thursday.

The bye election to Shella constituency is necessitated following the demise of sitting MLA, Donkupar Roy on July 28. Roy who was the MLA of Shella since 1988, was also the Speaker of the 10th Meghalaya Assembly and president of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Six candidates are in the fray which include Donkupar’s son, Balajied Synrem who is the candidate of the UDP, Independent candidate, Grace Mary Kharpuri, Congress candidate, Batyngshaiñ Ryngnga, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) Mosjo Wanswet, Independent candidate, Komen Laitmon, and BJP candidate, Joshua Warjri.

On the last day of the campaign, chief minister, Conrad K Sangma campaigned at Shella market for the UDP candidate in the presence of UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh, who is also the Assembly Speaker, and other ministers.

Independent candidate, Grace Mary Kharpuri held her last and final campaign at Sohkhmi village, while PDF candidate, Mosjo Wanswet campaigned with party ministers and leaders at Nongjri village.

The BJP held its final campaign at Ishamati village with BJP legislator, Sanbor Shullai and other leaders campaigning for Joshua Warjri.

The NPP chose to support the UDP in Shella though the PDF and BJP are also partners of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

Six polling parties have already left for their respective polling booths on Saturday, two days before the voting as the polling booths cannot be reached by road. One polling booth at Kalatek village can be accessed only by boat.