Shillong, Feb 21: The stage is set for today’s crucial elections to the two autonomous district councils (ADC) in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills with 272 candidates in the fray.
The voting began at 7 am and will close by 4 pm in all the 58 district council constituencies, 29 each in KHADC and JHADC.
Out of 272 candidates, 158 of them including 12 women are in the fray from 29 constituencies of KHADC and 114 candidates including 7 women from 29 constituencies of JHADC.
Prominent contenders include present CEM of KHADC Pynïaid Sing Syiem and present CEM of JHADC Thombor Shiwat besides Executive Members and sitting MLAs and MDCs.
The 58 constituencies of both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) will have a total of 2,281 polling stations in the elections to the two councils.
While the 29 constituencies in JHADC are very small, the size of the 29 constituencies in KHADC are as big as Assembly constituencies.
The 29 ADC constituencies of JHADC are divided from the seven legislative Assembly constituencies in Jaiñtia Hills, but the 29 ADC constituencies of KHADC formed almost the same areas of the 29 legislative Assembly seats.
The 29 constituencies of KHADC have a total of 1,798 polling stations while the 29 constituencies of JHADC have a total of 483 polling stations.
A total of 129 polling stations have been identified as vulnerable and critical in areas under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and 95 in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) even as Commissioner & Secretary in-charge District Council Affairs (DCA) Cyril Diengdoh has assured adequate deployment of security forces is in place to ensure a free, fair and smooth conduct of the elections.
Out of 1669 polling stations in the KHADC, 129 are identified as vulnerable or critical and 95 of 477 polling stations in JHADC.
A total of 13,08,818 voters in both KHADC and JHADC will exercise their franchise which include 6,32,347 male and 6,76,467 female.
The KHADC has a total of 9,96,518 voters out of which 4,81,268 male and 5,15,247 female.
The JHADC however has lesser voters with a total of 3,12,300 voters which include 1,51,079 male and 1,61,220 female.
There are also 4 third gender voters – 3 in KHADC and 1 in JHADC.
Counting of votes will be held on Monday and the term of both the Councils will expire on March 5, 2025.
