Over 71 per cent votes polled in Meghalaya

In the highest voter turnout in 20 years, around 71.37 per cent of the 19.14 lakh voters of Meghalaya exercised their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections Thursday, state Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said. Re-poll was recommended in one polling station.

In the matrilineal society of Meghalaya, the number of women who had voted was more than that of men, the CEO said. Polling was held for the state's two Lok Sabha seats, Shillong and Tura, and by-election to Selsella assembly seat on Thursday.

"We have recommended re-poll in Konarchar poling station under Selsella assembly segment after the sector officers detected a mix up of EVMs for the by-poll and the parliamentary elections. It is a human error," the CEO said. He said there were reports of technical glitches in six polling stations where officials forgot to clear the mock poll data in the EVMs.

The returning officers have recommended counting of VVPAT slips in those places, Kharkongor said. "The voter turn out was the highest in the last 20 years in the state. A total of 73.68 per cent women voted compared to around 69 per cent men," Kharkongor said.

The counting will be held on May 23. Sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala and five others fought for the Shillong seat, while Mukul Sangma of the Congress was pitted against ruling NPP's Agatha Sangma in a three-cornered contest in Tura..

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