On February 24, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered to seal of Meghalaya’s international border with Bangladesh and the state border with Assam until the State election result on March 2. The State will go to poll for 59 out of 60 constituencies on February 27 and the votes will be counted on March 2.
The polling for the Sohiong constituency has been postponed following the State’s former Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate HDR Lyngdoh’s demise after he collapsed during the election campaigning.
Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya FR Kharkongor said that Meghalaya’s international border with Bangladesh and the state border with Assam have been sealed “to ensure a free and fair election” in the State. He continued, “Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed along the international bordering areas in the state.”
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills issued an order prohibiting the movement of individuals along the India-Bangladesh border of East Khasi Hills till the declaration of the election result on March 2. The order stated that if “unregulated movement of individuals between the two countries is allowed, then there is a likelihood of law-and-order problem leading to danger to human life, safety and disturbance to public tranquillity.”
