Tura, May 16: The Tura byelection ended peacefully today with an overall turnout of about 72 per cent. The voter turnout is likely to go up, polling officials said.

From early morning, people came out to vote, braving inclement weather in many areas to decide the successor to former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

The election was seen as a fight between the legacy of Purno Sangma and the stewardship of chief minister Mukul Sangma.

Sangma's son and National People's Party (NPP) candidate Conrad K. Sangma, clad in informal attire and accompanied by wife Mehtab Chandee and daughter Amara, 5, arrived at Gandopara polling station under Selsella Assembly constituency of West Garo Hills district at 9.10am to cast his vote. Mehtab cast her vote at Forestilla polling station in Tura.

Conrad's brother James and his wife cast their votes at Dadenggre polling station in West Garo Hills while younger sister Agatha, a former Union minister, and his mother Soradini cast their votes at Walbakgre polling station in Tura.

Congress candidate Dikkanchi D. Shira, draped in a traditional dakmanda and a red top, arrived at Chengkompara polling station under Ampati constituency of South West Garo Hills around 1.20pm. She was accompanied by her husband and chief minister Mukul Sangma and daughter Miami, 23. All three voted there.

They were also accompanied by Daryl William Momin, grandson of Meghalaya's first chief minister Captain Williamson Sangma. Daryl, who had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election against Purno, cast his vote at Tura Government College polling station before proceeding to Ampati.

Both the candidates expressed confidence that they would win. "It has been a hectic election. I am positive that the outcome will be positive. I am hopeful that the people of Garo hills will give their mandate to NPP," Conrad said.

Dikkanchi said, "I am confident that the people are convinced with my campaign and will vote for me."

Mukul expressed his appreciation that the people came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. "The turnout demonstrates that people have faith in the democratic system. I am happy to see the trend and am confident of Congress's victory."

Information received from district deputy commissioners show that South West Garo Hills district recorded a very high turnout of 83 per cent. North Garo Hills witnessed 76 per cent turnout while West Garo Hills, which has the largest share of Assembly segments (14) that make up the Tura parliamentary seat, recorded 70.63 per cent.

The militancy-affected East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts witnessed a turnout of 63 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.

Election data from many polling stations in the rural areas were yet to come in, polling officials said.

At Agalangre polling station, on the outskirts of Tura, the presiding officer reportedly closed the booth before 4pm. The returning officer has registered a complaint and an investigation is under way.

At least 10 malfunctioning EVMs - seven in West Garo Hills, two in North Garo Hills and one in South West Garo Hills - were replaced.

Counting of votes will take place on Thursday.