Shillong, August 22: Bypolls in two assembly seats in Meghalaya are going to be held on Thursday. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is also contesting from one of the Assembly seats. Sangma is currently a Member of Parliament from Tura, and is contesting from South-Tura assembly seat in West Garo Hills district on a National People's Party (NPP) ticket. It will be important for Sangma to win this seat to continue as the chief minister of the state.

Son of former chief minister Purno Sangma, he became the chief minister on 6 March with the support of regional parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sangma will be contesting against Congress' Charlotte W Momin and independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma. While in Ranikor Assembly seat in South West Khasi Hills district NPP's Martin M Danggo will face UDP candidate Pius Marwein, PDF chairman PN Syiem and Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma.

According to an election official, South Tura constituency has 30,231 voters — 14,846 men and 15,351 women — in 36 polling stations. The Ranikor constituency has 65 polling stations with 29,685 eligible voters — 15,183 men and 14,487 women. The voting will take place from 7 am to 5 pm, and the results will be declared on August 27.

The by-elections in the two seats are taking place following the resignations of former five-time Ranikor MLA Martin M Danggo, who joined the NPP, and MLA of South Tura, Agatha K Sangma who left the seat for his brother Conrad Sangma. NPP will be looking to win both the seats to emerge as the single largest party in the 60-member assembly. Currently, NPP has 19 seats, while the opposition party The Congress also have the same number of seats.

(With inputs from PTI)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2018 12:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).