Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 27
The result to the election to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly narrowed down to the wire on Saturday with neither the two dominant contenders – the NPF and NDPP-BJP Alliance able to touch the magic numbers on their own.
At the time of going to press, the tally was evenly poised with the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) bagging 26 seats and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance securing 27. Individually, NDPP won 17 seats while the BJP got 12. National People's Party opened its account in Nagaland with 2 seats while a Janata Dal (United) and an Independent bagged one each.
The BJP had two ministers in the earlier NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government. But it later stitched a pre-poll alliance with the NDPP with former Chief Minister and MP Neiphiu Rio as the alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate. The NPF has been ruling the state since 2003.
Late in the evening, CEO Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, IAS addressing a media conference in Kohima informed that counting was almost done except in one or two places where verification of VVPATs was being undertaken.
“The genesis software which was used to upload the results couldn’t work at all in Zunheboto due to severed towers,” Sinha added.
The CEO also said that said there were lots of net connectivity issues during counting of votes resulting in delay of counting. He cited heavy rainfall in Mokokchung and some other areas as well as non working of BSNL network for many hours in some places.
Meanwhile, the result of 6 Tenning AC was forwarded to ECI, he informed. According to sources, the result for the same was erroneously declared earlier in the day. It could not be officially confirmed however.
The voting was held in 59 of the total 60 constituencies as three-time Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of the NDPP was declared elected unopposed from Northern Angami-II constituency.
Sinha further informed that out of 11,70,548 electors, the total voters turnout on February 27 was 9,48,770 hence, the polling percentage in the entire election process was 81.05% excluding some postal ballots which were in the process of counting.
There were about 60,000 to 70,000 postal ballots that were received by the ROs, he said.
"Even if we get to know the results, the ROs have to follow the due process and do lots of technical things. "
Additional CEO, Moa Aier expressed regret over the delay of information during the election process. He expressed gratitude to the media personnel as well as the general public for the cooperation extended during the election process.
