As many as 379 candidates, including 37 women, have filed their nominations for the February 27 elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, state Chief Electoral Officer F.R. Kharkongor said on Tuesday.
Tuesday was the last day for filing nominations.
Kharkongor said that the nomination papers and other documents would be scrutinised on Wednesday and the last date of withdrawal of candidatures is February 10.
Most of the sitting MLAs, including Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, submitted their nomination papers seeking re-election.
Conrad K. Sangma, who is the national President of the ruling National People's Party (NPP), will contest from his old South Tura constituency in West Garo Hills district, while Tynsong, the national Vice President of NPP, will contest from Pynursla.
Metbah, the President of United Democratic Party, is seeking re-election from Mairang constituency in Eastern West Khasi Hills district.
Former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is also seeking re-election from two seats -- Songsak and Tikrikilla in East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills districts, respectively.
Mukul Sangma, who was elected as a Congress candidate in the 2018 elections, joined the Trinamool Congress along with 11 Congress MLAs in November 2021.
BJP's two sitting MLAs -- Sanbor Shullai (also a minister) and A.L. Hek -- are also seeking re-election from South Shillong and Pynthorumkhrah constituencies in the state capital, respectively.
Congress Lok Sabha Member and state unit chief Vincent H. Pala has also filed his nomination papers from Sutnga-Saipung constituency in East Jaintia Hills district.
Breakthrough in reaching trapped men in Telangana tunnel likely 'very soon'
With the operation to rescue eight persons trapped in the partially-collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district intensified, state Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said a breakthrough in reaching the trapped men could happen "very soon".
Got justice due to PM Modi: 1984 riot victims express gratitude for life term to Sajjan Kumar
Following the recent life sentence handed to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, victims' families are still grappling with the pain of a justice system they feel has failed them.
Highway robbers posing as police commandos arrested in Srinagar
A police statement said that Srinagar cops have arrested a gang of robbers, who were posing as police commandos to rob trucks on the highway during night.
TN won’t oppose Hindi if it’s not imposed on us, says CM Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday reiterated that self-respect is a defining characteristic of Tamils and emphasised that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is not against Hindi unless it is imposed on the people of the state.
Six years of Balakot airstrike when India exhibited zero tolerance policy against Pak-backed terrorism
India on Wednesday marked the sixth anniversary of the Balakot airstrike, carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in response to the deadly Pulwama terror attack.
Grateful nation can never forget his invaluable contribution: PM Modi's tributes to Savarkar on his death anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led the nation in paying tributes to great freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his death anniversary.
Kisan Credit Card amount crosses Rs 10 lakh crore, benefits 7.72 crore farmers
Showcasing credit deepening in agriculture and reduced dependency on non-institutional credit, the amount under operative Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts has more than doubled from Rs 4.26 lakh crore in March 2014 to Rs 10.05 lakh crore in December 2024, according to the latest government data.
Lakhs of Naga Sadhus, devotees flock to Kashi Vishwanath for Maha Shivratri
Lakhs of Naga Sadhus, saints, and devotees have gathered at the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri.