Stage set for Khonsa West bye-election

Informing about the poll arrangements, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Liken Koyu on Sunday said, “Security forces including Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and State police in large numbers have been deployed for tomorrow’s Khonsa West bye-election.”

The Deputy CEO further said that 24 companies of CAPF have been deployed for the election duty.

The voting will begin at 0700 hours in 23 polling stations spread across the Assembly constituency and continue till 1600 hours, he said, adding that all the polling teams have reached their respective booths along with EVMs and other polling materials on Sunday.

“Each polling station having four polling officials including a Presiding Officer, will be manned by one section of CAPF and 10 civil police,” Mr Koyu informed.     

A total of 10,185 electorates including 5,226 women voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Monday to decide the fate of the two independent candidates - Chakat Aboh and Azet Homtok.

Kheti village polling station has the highest number of electorates, 895, while Upper Chinhan village polling booth has the least number of voters, 86.

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.