Shillong:
The sole assembly constituency of Sohiong in Meghalaya, of which polling could not be held on February 27 due to the death of a candidate, will go to polls on May 10 and counting will be held on May 13.
The election schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 29.
Polling was postponed in Sohiong following the death of United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate and former minister HDR Lyngdoh on February 20.
As per ECI, the date of issue of gazette notification is April 13; last date of filing nominations is April 20; date of scrutiny is April 21, last date for withdrawal is April 24, polling will be held on May 10 and counting on May 13. The date before which election shall be completed is May 15.
Along with Sohiong, Jalandhar parliamentary constituency in Punjap; Jharsuguda assembly constituency in Odisha; Chhanbey assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Suar assembly constituency in UP will also go to polls on the same day.
Six candidates will be vying for the Sohiong assembly seat in the upcoming election, including HDR’s nephew — Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah who will be contesting the election on a UDP ticket.
The others include – Samlin Malngiang of NPP, S Osborne Kharjana of INC, Sandondor Ryntathiang of HSPDP, Seraph Eric Kharbuki of BJP, Stoding Star Thabah of TMC.
Reports indicate that the UDP has a high chance of winning the seat owing to sympathy votes, though the prospect of NPP’s Samlin Malngiang, who was a sitting MLA, cannot be overlooked.