Polling Adjourned In Meghalaya's Sohiong After Former State Home Minister Lyngdoh Dies

EC has adjourned the February 27 poll in Sohiong assembly constituency of Meghalaya after the demise of former state home minister H D R Lyngdoh.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has adjourned the February 27 poll in Sohiong assembly constituency of Meghalaya after the demise of former state home minister H D R Lyngdoh, an EC official said on Saturday, as reported by the news agency PTI. Lyngdoh, a candidate of the United Democratic Party for the constituency, had died of cardiac arrest on February 20. He passed away after he suddenly collapsed during election campaigning. He was then rushed to a hospital.

“The poll scheduled to be held on February 27 from 7 am till 4 pm is hereby adjourned (in Sohiong assembly constituency) until the poll date is notified by the Election Commission of India,” the returning officer of the constituency said in an order, as quoted by the news agency PTI.

Lyngdoh had first represented the constituency in East Khasi Hills from 1988-1998. He won again in 2003 and subsequent polls till 2018 when he lost to Samlin Malngiang of the Hills State People's Democratic Party. 

The Election Commission has ordered the sealing of Meghalaya's International border with Bangladesh till March 2. The Meghalaya Assembly polls for 59 out of 60 constituencies will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will be held on March 2. Notably, polling for Sohiong assembly constituency was postponed earlier following the demise of HDR Lyngdoh. Meghalaya has shared a 443 km border with Bangladesh and 885 km with Assam.

Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya FR Kharkongor, told ANI that, Meghalaya's International border with Meghalaya and the state border with Assam has been sealed. "We have taken preventive measures to ensure a free and fair election in the State. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed along the international bordering areas in the state," Kharkongor said, as quoted by the news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills district on Friday issued an order that movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited within a one km radius of the India-Bangladesh border of East Khasi Hills district from between 24-March 2.