Shillong, Nov 13: Voting is underway for the by-election to the Gambegre assembly constituency in Meghalaya. Polling began at 7 AM on Wednesday, with long queues of voters seen outside polling stations in the region.

A total of 32,254 eligible voters, including 15,923 women, are expected to cast their votes across 51 polling stations. Thirty-one of these stations have been marked as critical due to security concerns. The by-election was called after the resignation of Saleng A. Sangma, the former MLA, following his election to the Lok Sabha.

Six candidates are in the fray, including Mehtab Chandee Sangma of the National People’s Party (NPP), wife of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Other contenders include Jingjang M. Marak from the Congress, Sadhiarani M. Sangma from the Trinamool Congress, Bernard N. Marak from the BJP, and independents Sengkrabirth Marak and Jerry A. Sangma.

Security measures have been tightened across the West Garo Hills district to ensure a peaceful voting process.