Shillong, Aug 21 (PTI) Campaigning for the August 23 bye-elections to the South-Tura seat in West Garo Hills District and Ranikor in South West Khasi Hills District ended today.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is contesting from the South-Tura seat on ruling National People's Party (NPP) ticket to enter the state Assembly.

Voting to the two Assembly constituencies will take place on Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm. The counting of votes will be held on August 27, an election official said.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Frederick R Kharkongor said that the election campaign in both the constituencies ended on a peaceful note with no untoward incidents.

South Tura constituency has a total of 30,231 voters including 14,846 males and 15,351 females, 33 service voters and one NRI, in 36 polling stations.

The Ranikor constituency has 65 polling stations with a total of 29,685 eligible voters including 15,183 males and 14,487 females.

The bye-elections in the two seats were necessitated following the resignation of former five-time Ranikor MLA Martin M Danggo, who joined the NPP, and former MLA of South Tura, Agatha K Sangma.

In South Tura, Sangma is pitted against the Congress' Charlotte W Momin and Independents John Leslee K Sangma and Chris Kabul A Sangma.

In Ranikor, NPP's Martin M Danggo will face UDP candidate Pius Marwein, PDF chairman P N Syiem and Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)