According to observers, the high turnout of voters might upset many a calculation. Probably quite a few surprises may occur in this election, they said.

People were seen in long queues since early morning as the voting started at 7 a.m. in 1,582 polling stations across the State.

Due to the huge turnout, voting hours had to be extended beyond the stipulated 4 p.m. in many polling stations in Shillong and other places of the State. Voters, mainly women, were seen waiting for their turn till 8 p.m. in many polling booths.

Though in some polling booths of Shillong, voting was slow in the morning hours, it gathered momentum as the day progressed. However, a smart shower of rain during the day put a dampener to the voting process in most parts of the city.

Voting had to be stopped for some time at Dulong polling station in Jowai constituency due to a fault in the EVM. Voting started after the EVM was replaced within a few minutes.

According to the CEO, the polling passed off peacefully without any untoward incident across the State. There was no incident of booth capturing in this election, he said.

"Introduction of Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has certainly helped checking cases of proxy voting," Mr Naik said.

As per initial reports, West Khasi Hills recorded an overall percentage of polling between 80 and 85 per cent while in Ri-Bhoi district the figure stands between 75 and 80 per cent. In East Khasi Hills, the turnout was between 80 and 85 per cent.

According to Jaintia Hills Returning Officer FR Kharkongor, overall percentage of turnout in the district was above 80. However there is possibility of the turnout exceeding 90 per cent, he said.

Congress supporter Dinang R Marak of Patranggre village, under Selsella constituency in Garo Hills, was beaten to death during the early hours of Monday morning. The Congress has accused the NCP of being involved in that incident and names of three persons suspected to be involved have been given to the police.

Poll related violence was received from Rangsakona area and Selsella on the eve of polls as group clashes between suspected supporters of both the NCP and the Congress were reported.

Meanwhile, a polling agent of UDP was beaten up by a group of Congress supporters at Wahiajer in Jaintia Hills.

On Sunday night, NCP candidate from Rymbai constituency Simon Siangshai was detained by the Dorbar Shnong of Deinchynrum for allegedly distributing money among the voters. He was later released after paying a fine of Rs 10,000 to the Dorbar Shnong.

Earlier on Saturday night, group clashes between NCP and Congress occurred in Matlagre, Churu Budugre and Kentapara, all in Rangsakona constituency. A wooden bridge connecting Okkapara to Dengnakpara was set on fire by unidentified persons but damage was partial.

The Congress workers allegedly assaulted 13 supporters of UDP who were returning from Umtasor village after distributing slips of electoral rolls among the villagers. The two vehicles used by the UDP supporters were also damaged in the incident.

After Monday's polling, all the three major parties of the State - Congress, NCP and UDP - have expressed their hope to emerge as the single largest party on March 7.

While Congress claimed that it would have a clear mandate by winning at least 32 seats, the NCP quoted a modest figure of 26.

UDP, on the other hand, went on to claim at least 30 seats to get an "absolute majority".

Speaking to The Shillong Times on Monday, NCP general secretary PA Sangma said, 

"We hope to bag at least 26 seats out of which at least 18 will come from Garo Hills and eight from Khasi and Jaintia Hills."

Reiterating his claim of "clear majority", MPCC president OL Nongtdu said the party would emerge winner in at least 32 seats.

The party is expecting 12 seats from Garo Hills and 20 from Khasi and Jaintia Hills, he said.

Supporting his party's claim for 30 seats UDP vice president SD Khongwir said, "We will win 10 seats in East Khasi Hills, four in West Khasi Hills and six each in Jaintia and Garo Hills. Besides, our party will sweep Ri-Bhoi district by winning all the four seats."

SHILLONG: A festive mood prevailed across Meghalaya as people thronged polling stations on Monday to decide the fate of 331 candidates aspiring to be representatives of the 60-member State Assembly.

In almost all the polling stations, voters were queuing up, while workers of rival political parties were making the last ditch to pacify electorate to vote for their respective candidates. Even though the Election Commission (EC) had imposed strict restrictions on canvassing by political parties after campaigning ended on March 1, the posters and banners reflected the spirit of the day.

Flags and banners of the major contenders -- ruling Congress and its allies and Opposition NCP and BJP -- were erected 200 metres away from polling stations to assist the voters find their names and the polling stations marked for them.

In all the polling stations, electronic voting machines (EVMs) had Braille-coded push buttons this time for the physically challenged. Special ramps were also erected for the disabled in all the polling booths.

In the early hours of voting, turnout was very low and those who turned up were mostly early risers and daily wage labourers. ''I cast my vote in the early hours as I have to rush to work,'' said Gurung of Pynthorumkhrah Assembly constituency.

Some candidates were also reported to have arranged vehicles to ferry old people to exercise their franchise.

At Shillong Law College and St Anthony's School, some voters expressed discontentment with the presiding officers for not allowing them to cast their ballot for failing to get a slip from polling agents of political parties outside the polling stations, despite possessing an Elector's Photo Identity Card.

However, Chief Electoral Officer P Naik later instructed all presiding officers to allow all genuine voters to exercise their franchise.

''It's not mandatory to get slips from polling agents of political parties to cast the ballot, if a voter possesses an EPIC,'' Mr Naik said.

However, from early morning, polling began in a relaxed atmosphere with voters and candidates interacting and congratulating each other for participating in it.

Mostly women voters were seen making serpentine queues in Laitumkhrah and Laban Assembly constituencies in the city. There are only 19 women candidates in the fray this time while of the 12,32,908 total voters, 6, 26,711 are females.

During noon, serpentine queues were witnessed outside the polling booths as voters were exercising their franchise.

In almost all the constituencies, the atmosphere was cheerful with supporters of rival political parties thronging the streets on motorcycles and other vehicles making efforts to ensure their candidate's victory. 

''It's our turn now to lead the state for overall progress and development,'' NCP worker Sengnam Marak said. However, a supporter of an Independent candidate said the low turnout indicated another fractured mandate in the State.

''No party will get an absolute majority and the party with highest number of seats will definitely need help of Independents to lead the State,'' said Ivan Lyngdoh. (UNI)

NONGPOH: Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang has hinted at a possible Congress-NCP post-poll alliance in the state, saying his party was not averse to a tie-up with the Sharad Pawar-party and "anything is possible after the elections".

"In politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy. NCP is our partner at the Centre. So anything is possible," Mr Lapang told reporters after casting his vote at the Presbyterian School here.

When reminded of the pre-poll bitterness between the two parties, Mr Lapang said, "it is just political opposition. The Congress is not averse to a tie-up with the NCP. Alliance is a normal principle in contemporary politics."

Lapang's remarks have given credence to speculation about a possible Congress-NCP alliance government after the assembly elections as opinion polls had suggested that no party was likely to get a clear majority.

He, however, was quick to add that Congress was expecting 30-plus seats in the 60-member House and therefore no tie-up with any party was required.

On the possibility of a post-poll alliance with NCP, MPCC chief Mr OL Nongtdu said the question of any such poll pact does not arise at the moment as the party is hoping for an absolute majority.

NCP, led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Mr PA Sangma in the State, is fast emerging as a major player along with the Congress and UDP the House.

Mr Lapang is locked in a tough contest with Dr R B Lyngoh of UDP but oozed confidence saying he would sail through. (Agencies)

It was a perfect electoral cake. Rolled out by Finance Minister Chidambaram to the strains of ‘Vote Congress.’ Iced with luscious lip-smacking freebies galore for one and all. From the aam aadmi to the debt-ridden kisan to the top tax payer. A feel-good budget that has bitten the ballot. To cream the electorate at the hustings!

Indeed, his 2008-09 ‘please-one-and-all’ budget has much to crow about. It has injected a much-needed dose to the suicide-prone farmers wherein debts worth Rs 60,000 crore have been promised to be waived off, it offers substantial tax relief to the middle class, welfare lollipops for workers in the unorganized sector, increased subsidies for houses under the Indira Awaz Yojana, special measures for Scs/STs, new deal for senior citizens and women et al.

However, the budget has a dangerous sub-text which has been lost in the euphoria of the goodies. The slew of schemes for the minorities is a pointer that minorityism has replaced cronyism as the tour de force of the budget. Take a 360 degree turn anywhere and minority appeasement hits you in the face. All in the garb of improving their quality of life (sic) which translates into "please give me your vote." Never mind that it holds out dangerous portends for India’s unity and national security.

How else should one react to the Finance Minister’s latest bonanza for the minorities. Starting with the piece de resistance, a multi-sectoral development plan for 90 minority districts at a cost of Rs.3,780 crore, Rs 80-crore earmarked for a pre-matric scholarships and over Rs 45 crore for modernizing madrassa education. The corpus for the Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been hiked by Rs.60 crore and 544 new bank branches (256 this year and 288 next year) will be opened in the minority districts to facilitate bank credit for them and Rs.75 crore more for the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation..

Statistically speaking none can deny that a large section of the Muslims need a better quality of life. Data collated by various commissions bring out the fact that socio-economic indicators for Muslims were below those for OBCs in many cases. About 59 per cent were illiterate, only 10 per cent went to school and a mere eight per cent opted for higher education. Worse, even as they were vastly under-represented in official jobs, they were grossly over-represented in India's prison population. None can also deny that the Government has a special responsibility to provide job opportunities, education and upliftment of the minorities and the backward classes.

No doubt, the Grand Dame of Indian politics perceives its Finance Minister’s lollipops as it’s cash card to regain its long-lost glory. But the crucial question is: Does poverty have any religion? What has religion got to do with the Government’s strategy for inclusive growth? Does ‘inclusiveness of Muslims’ mean at the cost of other groups? Is it in the interest of maintaining the social fabric of the nation? Will it help the cause of taking the Indian people together on the path of development?"

More. How does it better the lot of the mass of Muslims, if a few persons get jobs? When does minorityism supercede equality assured by our Constitution? Are quotas based on religion and community, the answer for maintaining India’s social fabric? And more important, it’s crucial harmony? Is the Muslim identity distinct from that of the Indian?

Given the level of dishonesty, populism and irresponsibility which increasingly governs our political system, these exclusive measures announced are an invitation to disaster. Clearly, the move is fraught with dangerous implications for the unity of the country. Tragically, so blinded are our politicians in their quest for power that none can see the Frankenstein they recklessly continue to create. By giving legitimacy to a communal quota, religious bigotry at its most ferocious could end up in carving once more a blood-stained path across our country. Clearly, this could sow the poisonous seeds for a new communal movement and separate electorates inspired by the two-nation theory that tragically led to India’s partition.

Importantly, if reservation based on castes is bad, budgeting on communal basis is horrendous. Ominous reasoning is being appendaged. It would bring the Muslims into the mainstream. Ensure harmony between the majority and the minority communities. It would prevent Muslims from being exploited any more as vote-banks by the so-called secular parties.

Recall, Nehru increasingly bent over-backwards to woo the Muslim vote, which constituted 12 to 15 per cent of the total Congress vote, the largest single block it received in the first few general elections. Thus, Muslim appeasement was no longer viewed as luxury but as a matter of life and death. To be manipulated and held hostage as was done by the British colonial masters to block freedom.

Once economically pampered, the next demand would be that the Muslims alone should decide who would represent them. Bluntly, leading to a most dangerous and blood-thirsty monster of separate Muslim electorate. Clearly, this could sow the seeds for a new communal movement inspired by the disastrous two-nation theory that led to India’s partition and the creation of Pakistan, thanks to the diabolical communal award by the British Raj which provided for the Hindus to vote for the Hindus and the Muslims for the Muslims.

So caught up are all in their blandishments for the increasing Muslim vote-bank (36.76 per cent growth during 1991-2001) to suit their petty parochial ends that they fail to see the Frankenstein they could mindlessly unleashed --- a Frankenstein that encourages the Muslim leadership to go communal and dictate its national agenda. Already a seven-Party Muslim Front has been formed to fight the electoral sweepstakes on its own.

Importantly, there is no place for double standards or the Orwellian concept of ‘more equal than others’ in a democracy. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The Fundamental Rights provide for equal opportunities for all irrespective of caste, creed or sex. Let’s not fudge or forget this. India of 2008 is not the India of pre-1947.

Clearly, the Government has to end this evil of separatism. Separate budget for minorities is no answer for fulfilling the peoples’ aspirations. It will not only further divide our people on creed-caste lines but is also short-sighted and antithetical to any hope of narrowing India's burgeoning divide between the haves and have-nots. The Government has no right to limit opportunities for the deserving or to shrink the public space for autonomy and free association.

In the ultimate, our petty power-at all-cost polity has to think beyond vote-bank politics and look at the perilous implications of these decisions. What exactly is the message the Government proposes to send across the country by its budgeting policy? Does it want to be the first to sow the seeds of another partition? It is willy-nilly encouraging the Muslim leadership to go communal and resurrect the Muslim League. Which could in turn result in reservation for Muslims in Parliament and State Assemblies and even separate electorate a la the British Raj?

If not stopped here and now, these actions could threaten a blood-stained path across our country. Let us not ignore the grim lessons of history. Or, we shall end up condemning ourselves and the country to repeating history. Where a nation can be plunged into communal anarchy once again. How long will we allow this vote-bank politics to continue recklessly and play havoc with India’s unity and integrity? The buck stops at the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s door. ----INFA

Clearly, this could sow the seeds for a new communal movement inspired by the disastrous two-nation theory that led to India’s partition and the creation of Pakistan, thanks to the diabolical communal award by the British Raj which provided for the Hindus to vote for the Hindus and the Muslims for the Muslims. So caught up are all in their blandishments for the increasing Muslim vote-bank (36.76 per cent growth during 1991-2001) to suit their petty parochial ends that they fail to see the Frankenstein they could mindlessly unleashed --- a Frankenstein that encourages the Muslim leadership to go communal and dictate its national agenda. Already a seven-Party Muslim Front has been formed to fight the electoral sweepstakes on its own. Importantly, there is no place for double standards or the Orwellian concept of ‘more equal than others’ in a democracy. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Sir,

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament will revolutionise cricket in the same way World Series cricket did in 70s. This is going to be a landmark event in the history of cricket. The World Series cricket of 70s, the brainchild of television mogul Kerry Packer, introduced day-night one-day internationals, coloured clothing and white balls.

Cricket is not going to change, but the unfortunate side is that cricketers have become commodities ... just commodities. Open display of wealth does not augur well for the Indian cricket where players are being auctioned for money. How can you generate city loyalty in a sport so focused on national identity?

In the name of improving the cricket the BCCI is spoiling the game by paying so high amount to those players who are already rich. I think fans should not encourage this type of money game. Shahrukh Khan has said that in future they are going to improve other sports. But the question is why not now? Instead of paying so much money to all the 'rich' cricketers, they should start offering helping hand to other sports. We do not know how many crores will go in BCCI officials' pocket. I for one cannot watch players playing for clubs. How can you generate loyalty to the teams owned by the likes of Priety Zinta etc.

Yours etc.,
Mominul Haque
Shillong-4.
Via e-mail

Sir,

A proposal to bring out stamps of Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza and Shahrukh Khan was mooted by Shakeel Ahmed, MoS for Telecommunications. The Minister seems to be totally unaware of the policy of the International Postal Union. I am afraid that it has become necessary for a nonentity like me to point out to him that pictures of living persons cannot be on postal stamps.

Needless to say that it took several years after the death of a saintly woman like Mother Theresa (known to the world as a walking saint) to be ordained a saint. When an Indian dacoit can become a sadhu in one's lifetime, so can a youth icon achieve notoriety in no time. That being the case, the question simply does not arise of bringing out stamps of youths who have yet to achieve a lot in life and who might fall from grace anytime as has happened with many an icon. I have no desire to question the motive of Minister, but I strongly oppose the weird proposal that he made without any application of mind.

Yours etc.,
Omar Luther King
Delhi-34
Via e-mail

Addressing mediapersons on evening, Mr Ponraj said the concept of 'sensitive and hypersensitive' does not work in Nagaland like other parts of the country, and hence additional forces are being brought to assist the authorities in conducting a free and fair elections on March 5.

Answering to a query, Ponraj informed that Ghaspani-I has the highest number of 58,780 voters, while Mokokchung town Assembly constituency has the least number with 6,144 electorate.

Kingpao Polling station under Noklak Assembly constituency in Tuensang district has only nine voters, while Singrijan Polling Station under Dimapur-III Assembly constituency in Dimapur district has the highest number of voters with 2,142.

There are 142 polling stations in the State, which has less than 200 electorate.

He said according to latest figures, the total number of voters was 13,00,507, with 6,64,604 males and 6,35,903 female voters.

The CEO said 17 Assembly Constituencies will witness direct fights and the highest number of candidates are in Thonoknyu Assemby Constituency under Tuensang district with nine candidates, followed by Bhandari and Tyui Assembly constituencies with eight candidates each.

More than 2000 Electronic Voting Machines will be used during the March five elections and 1,780 EVMs will be used in 1,780 polling stations and rest will be kept as reserved to replace any defect machine, he added.

Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated in some parts of Dimapur and Mon towns to maintain peace and tranquility following poll-related violence in those areas since Sunday evening.

The month-long campaign for the sixty-member Nagaland Assembly, which goes to polls on March five, ended at 4 pm on Monday.

A total of 12,99,888 electorate--6,64,984 males and 6,35,904 females, will decide the fate of 218 candidates, including four women. In the arena are twelve political parties and Independents.

Among prominent candidates are Mr Neiphiu Rio(NPF) from Northern Angami-II in Kohima district. He headed the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government before President's rule was imposed in the state on January three.

Others are former Chief Minister KL Chishi from Dimapur-I, sitting Rajya Sabha Member from Nagaland TR Zeliang (NPF) from Peren, former DAN minister Dr TM Lotha (BJP), former Rajya Sabha Member Apok C Jamir (Cong), who is the son of Goa Governor and former Chief Minister SC Jamir. Former Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie (NPF) is contesting from Western Angami constituency and former deputy Speaker EE Pangteang is contesting on an NPF ticket from Moka.

Campaigning in this hilly tribal Northeastern state was different from elsewhere in the country as the voting is decided by the clan, tribe or area-wise, for which electioneering by top leaders from outside the State has little impact on the voters. (UNI)

Agartala: The Opposition Congress in Tripura has accused the State poll panel of misdistributing postal ballots in the just concluded Assembly elections and demanded an inquiry into the entire procedure.

Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and former Chief Minister Samir Ranjan Barman alleged that the authorities had issued postal ballots for the employees who were not involved in the election process and other sections of civil society.

''A large number of such cases were reported from different constituencies in West Tripura and Dhalai districts where the prospects of the Left Front candidates are bleak,'' Mr Barman claimed, adding that a section of election officials had been used by the ruling party to ensure their victory in the polls.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the announcement of the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the postal ballots would be accepted till the commencement of counting on March 7.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr GSG Ayyangar said the ECI had received complaints from the Opposition parties on the alleged bungling in distribution and receipt of postal ballots in various parts of the State and assured that the Commission would look into all aspects related to the Assembly elections, adding that Observers had been camping in the state to oversee the whole election process. (UNI)

As the Governor started reading out his speech, the Opposition members got on their feet and created a ruckus, disrupting the Governor. The speech was taken as read.

The members, led by Leader of Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary, demanded that the Governor's speech should voice his own opinion, alleging that the latter was ''parroting'' the words of the Government.

They pointed out that the Government and the Governor were in disagreement over various issues and both sides had been vocal in criticism of the other.

The Opposition also displayed placards, demanding dismissal of the Government for alleged failure to control law and order situation and stormed the well of the House.

Governor Lt Gen (retd) Singh was forced to conclude the speech within five minutes, with the House accepting it as read.

The Governor, in his speech, highlighted the financial revival of the state and the return of peace in the insurgency-infested state.

''From a State passing through severe financial crisis a few years back, Assam today is a financially stable and strong one. This is reflected in the fact that there has been no overdraft even for a single day after April 2005,'' he said.

The State's annual plan size has had a substantial jump from Rs 3,800 crore for 2007-08 to Rs 5,011 crore in 2008-09, which included Rs 1,431.21 crore as the State's contribution, he added.

He said several private parties had evinced interest in investing in the State, boosted by the Government's pro-active role and improving law and order situation.

The Governor maintained that the internal security scenario had improved in the state, although some incidents of violence were perpetrated by outfits like ULFA, KLNLF, DHD and AANLA. (UNI)

Agartala: India's Border Security Force (BSF) troopers will soon use trained dogs to check infiltration and smuggling along Tripura's border with Bangladesh.

"We shall engage trained dogs for guarding the international border and check trans-border crimes," said UK Bansal, additional director general (ADG) of BSF.

"The efficiency ratio of dogs, equipment and man is 60:40:20 respectively."

The BSF dog training centre in Tekenpur in Madhya Pradesh has been providing eight types of training to sniper and tracker dogs.

"Recently, while patrolling the border areas of Assam along with a sniper dog, the jawans recovered a bag containing huge quantities of RDX," Bansal told IANS.

He said that it was decided to deploy at least four sniper or tracker dogs in each battalion of BSF posted along the international border in Tripura.

Bansal, who is looking after five frontiers along the India-Bangladesh border, said the BSF had also acquired six helicopters to step up vigil along the border in this region.

Pointing out that Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HuJi) and other fundamentalist elements had spread their net in the bordering states of India, including the North East and West Bengal, he said the BSF was procuring modern electronic gadgets like thermal and satellite imageries, different types of radars and night vision devices.

"Cross-border crime and the movements of anti-India forces, including separatists, through the India-Bangladesh border have reduced substantially while socio-economic development projects of the bordering communities have been initiated as part of the border management programme," Bansal added.

According to the BSF official, the entire stretch of the 856-km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura would be fenced. Work in some 641 km had already been completed.

Bansal said 84 companies of border guards were being deployed in Meghalaya and Nagaland to help the Election Commission conduct Assembly elections in the two northeastern states.

"I don't agree with some of the experts that the BSF should not be deployed for internal security like in elections as the force is capable of tackling any kind of eventuality and problems," Bansal said. (IANS)