Shillong, August 23: The polling for two assembly seats in Meghalaya began at 7 am on Thursday and will conclude at 5 PM. The results of the bypoll will be declared on August 27. Reports inform that four companies of Central armed forces being deployed in both the constituencies. In both the constituencies- the South Tura and the Ranikor assembly constituency, electronic voting machines and VVPATs are being used for casting votes.

According to a tweet by ANI, Meghalaya by-election voting percentage till 1 pm in Ranikor was 46.89% while in South Tura, it was 48%. It must be noted that the South Tura assembly constituency in West Garo Hills district has around 30,230 voters spread across 36 polling stations while the Ranikor assembly constituency in South West Khasi Hills district has 65 polling stations with a total of 29,685 voters.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is currently a Member of Parliament, is contesting from one of the Assembly seats from South-Tura assembly seat in West Garo Hills district. Sangma is contesting the polls on a National People's Party (NPP) ticket. Meanwhile, Agatha Sangma resigned as a member from South Tura Assembly seat to pave the way for her brother Conrad to contest the by-election.

According to details by an election official, the South Tura constituency has 30,231 voters — 14,846 men and 15,351 women. The voting will be held in 36 polling stations. The Ranikor constituency has 65 polling stations with 29,685 eligible voters — 15,183 men and 14,487 women. Sangma's win in the bypoll is crucial for him to win this seat to continue as the chief minister of the state.

The polling on Thursday is held 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. According to a report by PTI, 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 Congress also has the same number of seats.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2018 08:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).