The by-election in 22-Wangoi Assembly constituency which was conducted on Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm ended peacefully with a high turnout of electors at almost all the polling stations within the assembly constituency. The overall poll percentage was recorded at 93.26 per cent.
Based on the poll percentage received from the Returning Officer by the Media Cell, a poll percentage of 8.77% was recorded in the first two hours of voting, which gradually increased to 31.50 % at 11 AM, 53.29 % at 1PM and 75.23% at 3PM. However, a sharp rise in polling was recorded in the last two hours of voting resulting to a high polling percentage of over ninety percent by completion of the voting hour which ended at 5 pm.
The high point of the byelection amid the current Covid-19 pandemic was the casting of votes by 12 Covid-19 patients at different polling stations within the Wangoi Assembly Constituency.
As per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, Covid-19 patients who are quarantined can cast their votes in the last hour of polling under the supervision of health authorities. PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) were provided to every Covid-19 positive voters before entering the polling booth adhering to ECI guidelines.
Following the guidelines for a Covid-19 safe election, safety measures were taken up at each polling station. Every voter was provided facemasks, hand-gloves and sanitiser, and body temperature of every voter was checked before the entry to the polling booth for casting their votes.
Three candidates namely Oinam Lukhoi Singh of BJP, Salam Joy Singh of INC and NPP candidate Khuraijam Loken Singh are vying for 22-Wangoi A/C seat. The result of the by-election will be declared on November 10.
