Music is synonymous with the mountainous state of Meghalaya and keeping this in mind, efforts are being made to effectively motivate the voters through music so that they exercise their franchise, leading to a high turnout in the February 27 election to the 60-member state Assembly.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Meghalaya F.R. Kharkongor has taken a personal initiative to inspire the 21,75,000 strong electorates spread across 3,482 polling stations in all 12 districts. With just 7 days to go for the poll on February 27, the CEO is actively leveraging music to urge voters to come to their nearest polling stations on the polling day and to choose, cast and celebrate their franchise, an election official told IANS.
He said: "The CEO in a message to the electorates said that to love your state, love your voice and love your vote, cast vote... as your right is your might, your voice is your choice."
"Light After Dark", which is the state's first all visually impaired music band and the state's 'Disability Icon', champions the cause of electoral participation amongst physically challenged voters to ensure that "no voter is left behind".
Meghalaya's election icons -- leading musical band 'Summersalt' and assorted leading artists from both Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills regions are musically enthusing and urging all voters to "Vote for sure " on February 27 through the foot tapping music video anchored by the office of the Meghalaya CEO.
All efforts are being taken to ensure that home voting by 80 plus senior citizens and physically challenged voters, facilitated by polling teams who are trekking across arduous terrain to arrange for smooth voting by these two categories transcending queues.
The election official said that through "Mission 300" campaign, five polling stations across 60 assembly constituencies have been identified in a bid to improve voting turnout this time, so that it touches 90 per cent over and above the 86.9 per cent voting turnout recorded in the 2018 Assembly elections, which compared to other states in the country is fairly robust.
Kharkongor also decided to give medals and certificates to the five first-time voters (18 plus), and five first voters in each polling station in Meghalaya, to encourage voters to exercise their franchise in a festive manner.
He said that for the past many years, women voters outnumbered their male counterparts in the electoral list, and in the previous elections, the turnout of female electorates was higher than the male voters.
Of the total of 21,61,729 voters, the number of male voters in the state is 10,68,801 and that of female voters is 10,92,326.
"We have organised 'My vote My Valentine' on February 14 in 300 polling stations where the turnout was previously slightly less," Kharkongor said.
He said that 120 all women-managed polling stations would be set up across the state.
In all, 375 candidates including 36 women are in the fray for the February 27 Meghalaya Assembly polls.
Compared to the last assembly polls in 2018, 78 more candidates are contesting the poll this time.
The counting of votes will take place on March 2.
Flight operation between Agartala-Delhi to be increased; resumption of flight operation between Agartala-Aizawl, Agartala-Shillong, says MP Biplab Kumar Deb
The former Chief Minister and presently the MP for West Tripura constituency Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday chaired the airport advisory committee meeting here at Agartala MBB Airport and said that there is a plan to increase direct flight operation from Delhi to Agartala.
Tripura: Bill proposes hike in salaries of CM, Ministers and MLAs upto 50pc
An Amendment Bill has been moved in the Tripura Assembly on Friday proposing the increase of salaries, allowances of Ministers, MLAs and former legislators by 45 to 50 per cent.
Winter assembly session begins in Tripura; Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu lauds Govt’s effort in maintaining law and order in Tripura
In his speech in the sixth session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly, the Governor said, “The state of Tripura is witnessing development in almost every sector including infrastructure, health care, education, agriculture and others under the guidance of the Centre and state leadership.”
TSF stages protest, demands to raise Roman script for Kokborok language in Assembly
The Twipra Student Federation (TSF), a wing of the North East Students Organisation (NESO), on Friday staged a protest near Circuit House in Agartala, demanding the issue of adopting the Roman script for the Kokborok language be raised in the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, which started today.
Govt to appoint over 400 Assistant Professors in colleges: CM
In a move to provide quality education to students studying in various colleges and to solve the crisis of Professors across the state, the Tripura government has taken a series of steps, including the appointment of 200 Assistant Professors,
Drug peddling: ED raids cop's residence, premises of suspected smugglers in Tripura
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Friday conducted raids in Tripura and searched the residence of a police official and premises of several people allegedly involved in drug peddling and money laundering cases, sources said.
Crucial winter session of Tripura Assembly to begin from tomorrow
The crucial winter session of the Tripura assembly would begin on Friday and a bill would be moved in the House amending the existing law to provide retirement benefits to all MLAs who have served even for just a day, officials said on Thursday.
Ex-CM accuses BJP of divisive politics to mask hide core issues
Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday criticized the ruling BJP, accusing it of fostering divisions among Hindus, Muslims, Tribals, and Non-Tribals to divert attention from pressing issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and economic hardships.