Tura (Meghalaya): People in large numbers queued up to cast their votes in the by-election to the Tura parliamentary seat in Meghalaya Thursday, officials said.

An estimated 50 percent polling was recorded until 2 p.m., and the vote percentage expected to be much higher by the time voting closes in the evening. Voting was moderate to brisk, officials said.

"Voting is going on peacefully with no reports of any untoward incidents," an election official said.

An estimated 400,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. Counting will be held Sunday.

The Tura seat fell vacant after nine-time parliamentarian and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma resigned from the Lok Sabha to contest the Meghalaya assembly elections earlier this year.

The main electoral fight for the Tura seat is between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Agatha Kongkal Sangma and Congress candidate Zenith Sangma.

Agatha is Purno Sangma's youngest daughter.

 

Source : IANS