Shillong: Voting for two parliamentary constituencies in Meghalaya began Wednesday amidst tight security, marking the start of second phase elections in India which began April 7, an official said.
Men and women in large numbers queued up in front of polling stations well before voting opened at 7 a.m. in the entire state. Polling ends at 5 p.m., said chief electoral officer Prashant Naik.
Meghalaya has two parliamentary constituencies - Shillong and Tura. Eight of the 10 candidates for these are crorepatis.
The ruling Congress in the state is pitted against fractured regional parties for the two Lok Sabha seats in this mountainous northeastern state, where elections are to be held April 9.
Of a total 15, 67,241 electors in Meghalaya, 22.62 percent are in the 18-25 age group, while 50.43 percent are women. Among the electors, 5,86,501 voters are in Tura, divided into 24 assembly segments, while 9,80,740 voters will cast their votes for the Shillong seat that has 36 assembly segments.