Nagaland Bye-election: Overall poll percentage at 88.10%

A first time voter stands in queue to exercise her franchise at a polling station during the bye-election to 14 Southern Angami- I Assembly Constituency on November 3. (Morung Photo)

A first time voter stands in queue to exercise her franchise at a polling station during the bye-election to 14 Southern Angami- I Assembly Constituency on November 3. (Morung Photo)

Re-poll ordered in Polling station No 11- Singrep, Kiphire

Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 3

The bye-election to the two assembly constituencies in Nagaland today recorded an overall polling percentage of 88.10 percent.

For 14-Southern Angami-I Assembly Constituency, the poll percentage was 84.41 percent while 60 Pungro- Kiphire AC recorded 89.80 percent.

“The polling has been by and large peaceful, except there have been some incidents,” said Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha.

Re-poll in one polling station

One such incident occurred in 60 Pungro-Kiphire A/C at Polling station No 11- Singrep, where only some votes were cast their ballots in the early morning.

Thereafter, polling was adjourned by the Presiding Officer citing ‘disturbance of peace’ at the polling station, the CEO informed, adding that his office had received a report in this regard from the Returning Officer.

“The polling officials had to stop the polling when the total number of votes cast at that time was not more than 20,” the State DIPR reported. 

Sinha said that the RO’s report will go to Election Commission of India after which the date will be fixed for fresh polls.

Another incident was reported under 14 Southern Angami-I Assembly Constituency in Jakhama.

According to the CEO Nagaland, some complaints were made that some people were not allowed to vote at one polling station followed by a counter complaint that some people who were not suppose to be moving out on the day of polling were doing so.

On getting the report, the DC along with SP Kohima visited the place and looked into the situation, he said, adding everything was ultimately found to be normal and there was no disturbance in polling as such.

“Besides these two, there have not been any major report of any malpractice or any intimidation been done to any voter regarding the polling,” Sinha maintained.

Scrutiny begins today

Meanwhile, the Returning Officer (RO) of both the districts of Kohima and Kiphire have fixed the time for scrutiny of Register 17A along with other polling documents on November 4 at 11:00 am, Sinha informed.

The scrutiny will be done in the presence of the observer and candidates/election agents.

In case, somebody wants to file complaints, they can do so during the scrutiny, Sinha said adding that whatever complaints were made today will also be look into.

On COVID-19 safety protocols, Sinha informed that voters were screened in every polling station, before entering into hall for exercising their votes. While the voters also came wearing masks, he said that the department also provided masks to those voters who failed to come with masks.

Hand sanitisers were also provided at the polling stations, he added.

Meanwhile, Sinha said that there were some Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) which developed defect during the mock poll. 

During the actual poll, 8 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines including one Control Unit (CU) and Balloting Unit (BU) each were replaced, he added.