Counting begins in Meghalaya
Counting of votes for 60 Assembly seats of Meghalaya, polling for which was held on February 23, began at 8 AM today amidst tight security.
"Counting will continue till all results are announced, hopefully before noon," Chief Electoral Officer P Naik told PTI here.
The CEO has already directed the district-level officers to ensure fool proof security in and around counting centres.
He said 100 metre periphery of all the 13 counting centres in the state have been declared no-vehicle zone.
Prominent leaders among the total 345 candidates whose fate would be decided today are HSPDP President Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who had never lost a single elections since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972, besides four former Chief Ministers, including Mukul Sangma of the outgoing house.
The three other Chief Ministers are D D Lapang, who is also the state Congress President, S C Marak and United Democratic Party Chief Donkupar Roy.
Other prominent candidates are Mukul Sangma's wife D D Shira, National Peoples Party chief and former Speaker P A Sangma's two sons – Conrad and James. PTI JOP KK SG 02280818
