KOHIMA : Meghalaya is all set for polling in 59 of the 60 assembly seats where more than 21.6 lakh voters will seal the fate of 369 candidates today, February 27, as the ruling National People's Party will fight to retain power, while the BJP and Trinamool Congress will attempt to unseat the incumbent government from power. Polls in Meghalaya will be held across 3,419 polling stations

Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said preparations for conducting a free, fair and peaceful election have been completed. Polling began at 7 am in 3,419 booths and will continue till 4 pm. As many as 640 polling booths have been categorised as 'vulnerable' and 323 as 'critical'. Thirty-six of the 369 candidates are women. The highest of 10 women nominees have been put up by the Congress.

The stage is set for assembly polls in Nagaland also where more than 13 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates contesting in 59 out of a total of 60 seats on Monday. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP are contesting the polls on a 40:20 seat sharing basis. The Congress has fielded 23 aspirants. Polling will be held from 7 am to 4 pm.

Polls for one seat in Meghalaya has been deferred following the death of a candidate while in Nagaland, BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi was re-elected unopposed from Akuluto constituency after his only opponent and Congress nominee Khekashe Sumi withdrew his candidature. Both Meghalaya and Nagaland have 60 seats each.

According to the election officials, around 13 lakh voters, including 6,55,144 women, would decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates, including four women.. Around 12 political parties, including national and state parties, are in the fray.

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