• 3 houses of NPF candidates vandalized in Phek town, CrPC 144 clamped
• Total of 140 candidates out of 535 have withdrawn nominations
• 395 validly nominated candidates for the municipal election 2017
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 17
Seventy-two (72) candidates from 13 town and municipal council across Nagaland state withdrew their nominations on Tuesday, the deadline for the withdrawal of the nominations to the forthcoming ULB election, bringing the total candidates withdrawal to 140. There are now 395 validly nominated candidates for the Nagaland Municipal Elections 2017.
Bowing to pressure from the Naga Council Dimapur and other tribal hohos, Dimapur saw the highest number of withdrawal of nominations of 10 candidates out of the 60 candidates in the fray.
From Chumukedima, Mangkolemba and Chozuba town councils, all the candidates (6, 13, and 12) have withdrawn their nominations as on Tuesday. Besides, withdrawal of nominations from other town councils include Phek- 7, Meluri- 4, Tuli- 6, Shamator- 1, Noklak- 1, Bhandari-3, Zunheboto- 2, Chozuba- 12, Aboi- 1 and Wokha- 6.
In Phek district, volunteers of the Chakhesang Youth Front turned violent and vandalized the houses of three intending candidates who refused to withdraw their nominations as directed by the Chakhesang Public Organization. The houses vandalized by the mob who gathered in the hundreds belonged to three NPF candidates who had filed nominations from Ward 1, 2 & 3.
Properties inside the houses were ransacked while vehicles were overturned and damaged by the enraged mob. The candidates were not in station during the time of incident.
The situation reportedly calmed down only after the police resorted to blank firing to disperse the mob. Following the incident, the Phek District Administration promulgated Section 144 CrPC in Phek town, which prohibited the assembly of three or more persons. Heeding to the directive of the CPO, seven (7) candidates -5 Independent and 2 NPF withdrew from the race to the Phek Town Council.
Sources said 8 NPF candidates from Phek Town have been excommunicated by CPO for defying the resolution of CPO on ULB election 2017. It is learnt that they were banished from Chakhesang region in Phek district with effect from January 17, 2017 for a period of seven years as per customary law.
In Dimapur, the summon bid by the Naga Council Dimapur to candidates of DMC at Lotha Hoho ki with the backing of the tribal hohos, GBs and DUCCF was received with mixed reaction as only a portion of the candidates turned up to the meeting.
Amidst furor and mounting pressure, all four Congress candidates, 5 Independent candidates and 1 BJP withdrew their nominations while none of the 22 NPF candidates gave consent to withdrew their nominations amidst threat of excommunication from their respective tribal bodies.
Convenor, Selection Committee for DMC polls, Congress, K.L. Chishi said heeding to the call of tribal bodies; the four intending Congress candidates have withdrawn their candidature.
“We are of the view that Congress must live with the people and give importance to the people who are the supreme authority and we cannot bypass the wishes of the people. So we have requested our candidates to withdraw their nominations,” Chishi informed reporters today.
Independent candidate from DMC ward no 19, Joseph Sumi has withdrawn his candidature to support BJP candidate, Hokivi Chishi.
Since the filing of nominations, there has been nil withdrawal from the town councils of Longkhim, Pungro, Tizit, Naginimora, Longleng, Tseminyu, Peren and Jalukie.
