MEGHALAYA WITNESSES HISTORIC VOTERS' TURNOUT IN LOK SABHA ELECTION 2014

Meghalaya, in India's northeast corner, has recorded a historic 78.13 percent voters’ turnout in Garo Hills during Wednesday’s polling for the Tura Lok Sabha seat, moreover, the States’ overall voters’ turnout of 69.03 per cent is the second highest figure recorded in Lok Sabha election history.

This Garo Hills figure is the highest voters’ turnout in Meghalaya’s Lok Sabha election history that began in 1977 after attaining statehood in 1972. The previous highest figure was 75. 45 recorded in 1998 when the NDA came to power.

The overall State voters’ turnout is the second highest figure, after the 1998 Lok Sabha election voters’ turnout of 74.38 per cent.

Chief Electoral Officer, Prashant Naik, releasing the final figures said today, that overall the State recorded a voters’ turnout of 69.03 per cent, which is an increase of 5 per cent from the last Lok Sabha elections of 2009.

In fact, in the past ten Lok Sabha elections that were held from 1977, the average voters’ turnout in Meghalaya has been 58.44 per cent. So a turnout above 60 per cent is normally considered good by the State elections department.

With such an election history and coupled with the militancy problem in Garo Hills, the region’s turnout has been beyond expectations. A number of factors contributed to this rise and the commendable awareness campaign undertaken by the Election department to motivate voters is one of them, as well as the contesting candidates – Purno Sangma from the National People’s Party and Daryl Momin from the Congress.

But, apart from the campaigns and candidates, the people in the militancy-infested region did seem to exercise the power at their disposal more forcefully and try bringing about positive changes in the region and their lives. There were 5.9 lakh registered voters for the Tura Seat, of which, 4.6 lakh voters exercised their right to franchise.

In Shillong constituency, 63.58 per cent cast their vote. The turnout in Shillong is the third highest for Lok Sabha elections. In 1998, 73.70 per cent cast their vote followed by 72.51 per cent in 1983. There were 9.8 lakh registered voters for the Shillong seat, of which, 6.2 lakh voters cast their ballot. Sitting Congres candidate Vincent Pala is seeking re-election in a multi-corned contest which includes Paul Lyngdoh (UDP), BJP’s Shibun Lyngdoh, Aam Admi Party candidate, Amerington Kharshiing, Richard D Shabong of the CPI and three independent candidates – Prechard BM Basaiawmoit, Denis Siangshai and  Ivoryna Shylla.

Overall, there were 15.66 lakh registered voters in Meghalaya and 10. 80 lakh cast their vote. Female voters with 70.09 per cent outnumbered their male counterpart (67.95 per cent) in casting their votes.

Amongst the 60-Assembly segments, Pynursla in East Khasi Hills recorded the lowest voters’ turnout with 52.65 per cent and the highest was recorded in Mahendraganj constituency, in West Garo Hills, with 86.40 per cent.

Meanwhile, all the polling officials have returned to their respective headquarters and the EVMs have been kept in strong rooms in 13 centres across the State fitted with CCTVs, Naik informed. (Eom)