SHILLONG, Feb 9 - As many as 377 candidates were finally in the fray for the upcoming Assembly election in Meghalaya as the nomination papers of the candidates today found to be in order after scrutiny, for the scheduled February 27 polls.
Nomination papers of 214 candidates were found valid from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, while 163 nomination papers of candidates were found to be valid for Garo Hills region.
There are 85 Independents in the fray. In the last election, there were 122 Independents, out of which 13 won the polls. However, in this election the number of women candidates has increased from the previous elections.
In the 2013 elections, there were 25 women candidates. The number has increased to 33 this time. However, the exact number of candidates who would contest the election would be clear after the withdrawal of nominations which is on February 12.
Milson Sangma of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arelitha K Sangma and Serazul H Kharkongor�s from the North East India Development Party (NEIDP) nomination papers were rejected. These candidates were all from Garo Hills.
Milson and Arelitha didn�t have the requisite number of proposers for their nominations. Kharkongor�s nomination paper was rejected as he was disqualified for failing to produce his election expenses after the 2013 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, one Tennydard M Marak has petitioned the Election Commission of India and also the Chief Election Officer to �withhold, cancel nomination papers� of Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma and his brother Zenith M Sangma.
He said that the CM and his brother are contesting from constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Tribes as they genuinely do not belong to the scheduled tribe. He claimed that the Sangma brothers have obtained their ST certificates fraudulently.
Marak has earlier petitioned before the Supreme Court on the same issue and the matter is pending.