Dimapur, Feb 26 (MExN): Offering a new twist to the hectic bye-election campaigns for the all-important Dimapur-1 Assembly Constituency and 54 Tuensang Sadar-II Assembly Constituency seats, the Election Commission has decided to go in for revision of electoral rolls in both the constituencies to thwart rigging of polls and “influx” of bogus voters.
Chief Election Officer (CEO) CJ Ponraj today convened a meeting at Kohima with the Deputy Commissioners of Dimapur and Tuensang districts where the conduct of the bye-elections and review of electoral rolls in both the constituencies figured as the main agenda. The decision to go in for revision of electorate’s rolls was necessitated by the fears that non-constituency electorate would be brought in “in truckloads” to hold weight for candidates’ ballot bag. The date for the revision of electoral rolls is expected within the coming few days, sources informed. However, additional sources in the know-of-matters said the decision to go for revision of electoral lists for both the constituencies, was more influenced by the concern that rolls from previous elections would be either clubbed in with the rolls for 2006 or that ‘new entrants’ (bogus voters from other constituencies) would be added to existing ones.
This would mean the list for Dimapur, particularly, would be doubled i.e., a ration of 5-15. The concern that polls would be rigged is being accentuated in particular to the crucial Dimapur-1 seat, where the NPF is expected to make a win.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner K Nzimongo Ngullie assures the administration’s best effort for free and fair bye-elections. The polling would be scrutinized by General Observer and Expenditure Observer from the Center, besides observers from the political parties in the fray.
Meanwhile, all the candidates in the fray from Dimapur-1 are expressing concern that the other contesting parties would resort to “influx” of bogus voters from outside to secure a win. The worry for them is that the other candidates would file in bogus voters but “whether or not there would be any genuine voters.” For the BJP for instance, Nagas being Christians should go in for a fair fight: “This is my honest appeal to all the voters that there should be no rigging or bogus voters in the true spirit of Christianity” Ato Yepthomi, chief of Nagaland BJP said. The right choice for the right candidate should be made and not otherwise with undesirable ways and means, he said. BJP candidate for Dimapur-1 Kevise Angami shared a related line of thought: “Proxy voting is a shame” he said simply. For JD (U) candidate Limatemjen the question is no as much whether there will be bogus voters: “will there be any genuine voters” he wondered over telephone. Independent candidate Dr Roland Lotha also toed the JD U)’s thought: “As far as the polling is concerned all the candidates are worried about proxy voting” he said with the assertion that if such is allowed to take place, “democracy will be murdered”. Most functionaries from various parties expressed underhand concern that major parties like the NPF and the Congress would resort to the services of fake voters since ‘they have nothing to lose by winning’. Interestingly, when attempts were made to contact the NPF and the Congress for comments on poll-rigging and bogus voting, calls made were not received.
