| LS Polls, Voter Turnout: Nagaland 81.47%, Manipur 80%, Meghalaya 71%, Arunachal 55% | | | Agencies
ITANAGAR/SHILLONG/IMPHAL/KOHIMA, Apr 9: Polling was held today for six Lok Sabha seats in the four northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya besides Arunachal Pradesh where Assembly elections to the 60-member House were also held.
Nagaland registered 81.47 per cent polling, Manipur 80 per cent, Meghalaya 71 per cent and Arunachal Pradesh 55 per cent, according to election office sources.
Congress candidate in Konsa (W) Assembly constituency in troubled Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh was kidnapped by suspected militants, but was released unharmed later.
Polling was not held in a disputed area in Longleng district of Nagaland bordering Assam.
Longleng Superintendent of Police James said armed Assam Police and CRPF personnel prohibited the entry of polling officials at Ladaigarh Polling Station (PS) No. 1 under Tamlu Assembly constituency in the district.
A mob prevented setting up of standby polling station other than the designated one.
In Meghalaya, defying a 12-hour bandh called by a banned separatist group in the Khasi Jaintia hills, voters turned out in large numbers in urban areas, state Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said.
In Arunachal Pradesh, Congress, BJP, NCP and People's Party of Arunachal, besides Independents, were in the fray in the Western and Eastern parliamentary constituencies which have been traditional Congress strongholds since 1975, except in 2004 when BJP made a dent.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering of Congress was pitted against BJP nominee Tarir Gao and PPA'S Wangman Lowangcha in the Eastern parliamentary seat.
After casting his vote at Sagalee, about 137 km from Itanagar, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said the party would emerge winner in both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Tuki was among 11 Congress candidates elected unopposed to the 60-member house. Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma cast his vote along with his wife Jyotsna Sharma.
"I congratulate the people of the state for their peaceful participation in the poll process indicating growth of democracy," he said.
There was a significant turnout of women and first- timer voters in a majority of the polling booths.
There were 155 candidates including 5 women, in the fray for remaining 49 Assembly seats in the state.
In Nagaland, Dimapur reported a turnout of 9.98 per cent and state capital Kohima 26.53 per cent. Khipre, the remotest district in the state, recorded the highest at 60 per cent till noon.
NPF candidate and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio cast his vote in the first hour at his home constituency of Northern Angami-II in Kohima district. Polling was, however, yet to begin in a disputed area in Longleng district bordering Assam.
Longleng Superintendent of Police James said armed Assam Police and CRPF personnel prohibited the entry of polling officials at Ladaigarh Polling Station (PS) No. 1 under Tamlu Assembly constituency in the district.
In Meghalaya, defying a 12-hour bandh called by a banned separatist group in the Khasi Jaintia hills, voters turned out in large numbers in urban areas, state Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said.
Congress, BJP, former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma's National Peoples Party, regional party United Democratic Party (UDP), besides Independents supported by small regional parties were contesting in the Shillong and Tura seats.
Sangma, who had won the Tura seat eight out of 10 times, was pitted in a straight fight against Congress candidate Daryl Momin for the seat.
In Manipur, 10 contestants from BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, Naga People's Front, NCP, JD(U) and Aam Admi Party, besides three independents were in the fray. The candidates whose electoral fate was decided were sitting Congress MP Thangso Baite, Gangmumei Kamei (BJP), C Doungel (NCP), Kim Gangte (TMC), Soso Lorho (Naga People's Front), L Gangte (JD-U) and M K Zou (AAP).
Elections to the Inner Manipur seat would be held on April 17. |
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