ITANAGAR, Dec 19 -�Campaigning for the by-polls to the Pakke-Kessang and Likabali Assembly Constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh ended�on Tuesday�evening.
Campaigning for the December 21 by-polls has remained low-key with state�s political leaders reaching out to the poll-bound Assembly segments making last ditch effort seeking support from the voters for their respective party candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be upbeat in the wake of victory in Gujarat and Himachal.
The bye-elections to the Assembly seats, which were won by Congress in the 2014 general elections, is considered to be a litmus test for 18-month-old Pema Khandu-led BJP Government as the saffron party is facing the electoral battle for the first time after taking over the state�s reign.
The Pakke-Kessang Assembly Constituency with a total of 7,455 electorate (3512 males and 3943 females) spread over 26 polling stations is set to witness a straight fight between ruling BJP�s Biyuram Wahge and Congress nominee and former Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Dolo.
On the other hand, Likabali Constituency, with a total of 10,608 voters including 5,277 males and 5331 females and 39 polling booths, is witnessing a four-cornered contest with BJP�s Kardo Nyicyor, Congress Modam Dini, PPA�s Gumke Riba and Independent candidate Sengo Taipodia. Riba, who after being denied party ticket had joined the regional outfit PPA to fight the electoral battle, is expected to give a tough fight to Nyicyor, who had just joined the BJP few days ahead of announcement of the poll schedule.
Official sources informed that the campaign was peaceful. Along with the electronic voting machines (EVMs), VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trails) would be used for the first time in the by-elections in the state. VVPATs were already commissioned and ready to dispatch to the polling stations.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the peaceful conduct of by-polls by deploying sufficient number of state police and four companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) from outside the state. Critical polling stations will be covered by CAPF and IRBn personnel, the CEO added.
