Voting for the GHADC elections in Meghalaya ended peacefully on Monday with an estimated 69.42 percent voter turnout recorded.
Voting were held in as many as 953 polling booths across 29 GHADC (Garo Hills Autonomous District Council) constituencies.
“An estimated of 69.42 percent of the total 7,43,717 voters have exercised their franchise,” an election official said after the polling on Monday.
The election official further said that polling was by and large peaceful and there was no report glitches in the functioning of EVMs during the voting hours.
Voting for the GHADC elections began at 7am on Monday amid tight security, especially in vulnerable and critical polling stations.
Although voter turnout was dismal in the initial two hours of voting with just 14.63 percent recorded till 9am, voting picked up pace later in the day.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stood in queue to cast his vote at the polling station in Walbakgre LP School in Tura.
Voting was held amid protests by various organisations in Garo Hills against the participation of “non-tribals” as voters and as candidates.
The ruling NPP, BJP and opposition Congress have fielded candidates from the non-tribal communities in some of the constituencies, especially in the plain belts of Garo Hills which has a mixed population.
Fate of 182 candidates including 8 women candidates in fray for the GHADC elections have been sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Results will be declared on April 15.
Polling percentage:
9:00am – 14.63%
11:00am – 28.34%
1:00pm – 44.47%
3:00pm – 58.11 %
5.00pm – 69.42 %