Voters queue up at Mylliem on Monday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Feb. 25: Women were more enthusiastic than men in exercising their suffrage in the two autonomous district council polls, shows the final tabulation of votes polled compiled by the Meghalaya district council affairs department.

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) went to polls yesterday.

Of the 212 candidates in the fray only 14 are females, but women have played a major role in deciding the fate of the candidates since women outnumber men in terms of population.

In the KHADC, there are 123 candidates, including 12 women, battling for 29 seats.

In JHADC, there are 89 candidates, including two women, also battling for 29 seats.

Of the 6,68,398 voters in KHADC, 5,06,030 (75.70 per cent) exercised their right to vote. The turnout was higher for JHADC polls. Of the 2,09,217 voters, 1,89,717 (90.68 per cent) cast their votes.

Women dominated voting in the constituencies, which witnessed a large number of them standing in queues waiting for their turn to cast their votes. Polling booths arranged for male voters wore a deserted look because of low turnout.

Of the 3,46,561 female voters in KHADC, 2,67,563 (77.20 per cent) cast their vote while of the 3,21,837 male voters, only 2,37,967 (73.94 per cent) went to vote.

Male voters dominated only in five of the 29 constituencies while in one constituency, Nongspung- Sohïong, the number of male and female voters were same.

The five constituencies where there were more male voters that female voters are Jirang, Mawhati, Shella, Langrin and Mawshynrut.

Nongspung-Sohïong is represented by Congress legislator and district council affairs minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, who is seeking re-election as a member to the KHADC.

In JHADC, the turnout of women voters was remarkable compared to men.

Of the 1,07,178 female voters, 97,895 (91.33 per cent) cast their votes. Of the 1,02,039 male voters, 91,822 (89.98 per cent) exercised their right to vote.

In JHADC polls, male voters exceeded female voters only in four constituencies — War-Central, Saipung, Narpuh and Bataw-Lakadong.

The fate of the 212 candidates has been sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs), now kept in strong rooms, though re-poll has been necessitated in a few polling booths tomorrow.

The votes will be counted on February 27.

The day will see 58 candidates emerge winners — 29 each for KHADC and JHADC.

The KHADC and JHADC have 30 members each — 29 elected members and one member nominated by the governor.