Kohima, March 13 (MExN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) unit of 8-Western Angami Assembly Constituency today reiterated its demand for appropriate disciplinary action against erring officials and culprit(s) involved in “illegally casted postal ballots” under the constituency.
In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland, the NDPP unit through its president, Vitsalhou Kesiezie and general secretary, Ravolhuto Whiso reminded that the NDPP candidate Er. Kevisekho Kruse had filed a complaint on March 1, 2018 against the matter.
“Yet, it is disappointing to know that no progress has been made so far on the part of the District Election Officer, who is also the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima district,” it rued.
Quoting “reliable sources from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima,” it said that “some suspects have been identified; however, even after 13 days, we have not heard of any arrest being made nor any action taken against the culprit(s). This, we consider it as a lackadaisical attitude on the part of the law enforcing agency which we out-rightly condemn.”
The NDPP reminded the CEO that a total of 29 voters (Annexure-A) were denied to exercise their right to vote on the polling day during the recent State assembly elections. A separate complaint letter on this matter was submitted to the District Election Officer on February 27, 2018, it said.
“Basing on the reason given by all the Presiding Officers of separate polling stations, the 29 voters were denied to vote on the ground that their votes have been earmarked as casted through postal ballot. We found out that none of the 29 denied voters were on election duty list; instead, we could identify them as farmers and students including one deceased. Some of the listed voters were also former office bearers of a political party from different villages/colonies under the constituency who recently joined the NDPP,” the letter further stated.
The NDPP was confident that “the entire episode leading to the case must have been spearheaded by some workers of a political party in connivance with some government officials attached to the Election Office.”
Therefore, it sought the CEO’s “immediate intervention” saying “this is a case of serious irregularities and foul play committed against the NDPP candidate of the constituency, and a case of violation against the constitutional and fundamental rights of citizens as 29 voters were denied to vote.”
Failing to book the persons involved and take necessary action against them, the letter cautioned, “we shall not be held responsible for any untoward incidents that may erupt relating to the incident.”
