MCC in force across state
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 27
Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha today said that consequent on the announcement of bye-election to the Lok Sabha seat of Nagaland Parliamentary constituency, the Model Code Of Conduct (MCC) has come into force yesterday itself.
The MCC will be applicable to all candidates, political parties and to the Union and state government concerned. Addressing a press conference here today, Sinha said that since Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency encompasses the entire state of Nagaland the MCC will be enforce everywhere.
“All the provisions of Model Code of Conduct will be applicable across the state,” he said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 26 announced schedule for bye-elections to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland on May 28.
The bye-election in Nagaland was necessitated as the present chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, resigned as the Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) after he was elected unopposed from the Northern Angami II A/C during the recently held state assembly elections.
Among many others, the MCC prohibits publication of advertisement by the state government; no fresh work under MPLAD and MLALAD scheme; no official function should be done by any political functionary; checking of government vehicles for electioneering by the concerned District Election Officers.
All ministers, whether central or state, also cannot combine their official tours with election works in any manner after the announcement of the bye-elections.
He also informed that in Lok Sabha election a candidate is entitled to spend only 70 lakhs. Meetings with different political parties will be convened soon.
The CEO informed that EPIC card will be used for election for identification of voters. Those without EPIC card will be allowed to use one alternative Photo IDs but the exact Photo IDs list will be given by ECI later and it will be made known to everyone. He said the last electoral roll got published on January 1, 2018 will be used as the qualifying date. However, the electors who have been enrolled after that as part of continuous updation will also be considered.
The ECI has designated Commissioner Nagaland as Returning Officer (RO) for this bye-election.
Nomination, scrutiny and other things will be done by RO and under his supervision the counting will also be done and he will declare the result as well, Sinha said.
All the DCs including Pughoboto sub division which is manned by ADC will be the Assistant RO. He said that filing of nominations will be done at the Commissioner's office, Kohima. The process of training of polling personnel will commence shortly.
After the enforcement of MCC there will be no transfer and posting unless it is recommended by the Election commission of India.
Sinha said that EVMs and VVPATs will be used in the bye-elections in all the 2196 polling stations in the state and checking of EVMs and VVPATs will star next week.
Additional CEO N. Moa Aier stated that webcam and video camera will be installed in all the polling stations. Vulnerability of the polling stations will be decided by the concerned DCs and SPs and reported to the RO, who will later send the same to ECI. The related matter is under process, he said. Aier also sought the cooperation of the public for a clean and peaceful election.
