All arrangements in place for free, fair and peaceful bye-elections: CEO Nagaland

Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha briefing media persons in Kohima on November 2. (Morung Photo)

Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha briefing media persons in Kohima on November 2. (Morung Photo)

Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 2 

Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha today informed that all arrangements are in place for free, fair and peaceful bye-elections to the two assembly constituencies in Nagaland on November 3.

Altogether, 13, 588 and 29,500 electorates will exercise their franchise in the 14 Southern Angami-1 and 60 Pungro-Kiphire Assembly Constituencies respectively.

Talking to media persons here this afternoon, Sinha informed that the poll will start from 6:00 am till 4:00 pm across 22 polling stations under 14 Southern Angami-1 A/C and 77 polling stations under 60 Pungro- Kiphire A/C.

There are 53 and 101 service voters under 14 Southern Angami-1 A/C and 60 Pungro- Kiphire A/C respectively

In every polling station, “we are having facility of web casting or offline videography,” Sinha informed.

In 14 Southern Angami-1 A/C, there will be web casting in all the polling stations while in 60 Pungro- Kiphire Assembly Constituency, about 30% of the polling stations will have web casting and the rest will have offline videography.

Besides the presiding officer, each polling station will also have four polling officials.

Sinha said that in 14 Southern Angami -1 A/C, more than 50% of the polling stations have been classified as ‘critical/vulnerable’ as compared to 40% under 60 Pungro- Kiphire A/C.

About 130 polling officials will be involved in 14 Southern Angami-1 A/C and about 460 polling officials in 60 Pungro-Kiphire A/C.

Sinha appeals voters

Sinha made a fervent appeal to the voters of both the constituencies to come out and exercise their franchise.

“All arrangements have been made at the polling stations and there are some precautions that they (voters) also need to take in view of the COVID- 19 situation,” Sinha said.

The CEO requested the voters to come wearing masks and at the same time maintain social distancing protocol in every polling station.

He also requested that voters to follow the instructions of polling officials.

“We are expecting everyone to come with mask,” he said and at the same time informed that masks will be kept at the polling stations along with provision of hand sanitizers as well as hand gloves. 

Marking will also be made in front of the polling stations, he added.

He also stated that thermal screening will be there and in case any voter’s temperature is found to be on the higher side, he/she would be asked to cast their vote in the last hour.

In both the constituencies, there are some COVID-19 patient voters and for them, arrangements have been made to transport them by ambulances to the polling stations in the last hour to allow them to vote, Sinha informed.