Voting underway for by-election to Khonsa West Assembly seat
Itanagar/UNI: Voting is underway for the by-election to Khonsa West Assembly constituency in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, which is witnessing a straight fight between two independent candidates.
Polling began at 0700 hours this morning amid tight security in 23 polling stations spread across the Assembly constituency and will continue till 1600 hours.
“28.37 per cent voter turnout recorded till 0900 hours,” Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Liken Koyu said here.
A total of 10,185 electorates including 5,226 women voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the by-poll to decide the fate of the two independent candidates - Chakat Aboh and Azet Homtok.
Chakat Aboh, the wife of slain National People’s Party leader Tirong Aboh, is being backed by five major political parties, including ruling BJP and opposition Congress, for the bye-polls.
The bye-election to the Khonsa West seat was necessitated after Tirong Aboh, who contested the April 11 Assembly election as NPP nominee and got re-elected from the said seat, was gunned down by suspected NSCN militants in Tirap district on May 21, two days ahead of polls results.
The counting of votes is scheduled to be held on October 24.
