Alleged ‘video clips pertain to the conduct of mock poll’
DIMAPUR, MAY 10 (MExN): The Returning Officer (RO) of Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, Temjen Toy, who is also the State’s Commissioner, has written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nagaland informing about the fresh scrutiny conducted on May 3 and 4. The RO, in his letter to the CEO Nagaland dated May 9, 2014, gave a detailed report of the fresh scrutiny, which was conducted, according to the RO “in accordance to the parameters set by the Election Commission of India vide letter No. 495/NL-HP/2014 dated May 1, 2014.”
DIMAPUR, MAY 10 (MExN): The Returning Officer (RO) of Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, Temjen Toy, who is also the State’s Commissioner, has written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nagaland informing about the fresh scrutiny conducted on May 3 and 4. The RO, in his letter to the CEO Nagaland dated May 9, 2014, gave a detailed report of the fresh scrutiny, which was conducted, according to the RO “in accordance to the parameters set by the Election Commission of India vide letter No. 495/NL-HP/2014 dated May 1, 2014.”
The RO informed the Election office that apart from the two polling stations namely, 2-Akhakhu and 25-Naltoqa under 33 A/C Suruhoto, which were recommended for re- poll, all the remaining polling stations scrutinized did not have “substantial basis for declaration of the polls as void.” “Accordingly, we do not recommend re-poll in any of the polling stations,” he stated.
In connection to the 5 point complaint of the NPCC President to the Chief Election Commissioner, the RO in his letter to the State CEO has clarified it point by point. With regard to allegations of the Opposition Congress about video recordings showing poll malpractices, the RO explained that it did not understand “how and under what circumstances the video contained in the CD submitted by the NPCC was filmed”.
The RO pointed out that as per ECI letter No. 464/INST/2008/EPS dated January 19, 2009, no photography or video recording by any person inside the Polling Stations is permitted except by the persons authorized by the Commission. However, in order to be abundantly clear, the CD was referred to the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), Wokha, who is also the Wokha DC. In the ARO Wokha report it was pointed out that “the video clips pertain to the conduct of mock poll.”
A copy of the report submitted by ARO to the RO was obtained by this newspaper. The ARO Wokha stated that the video clips pertain to Part NOS. 10, 11, 13, 36 and 37 of 39 Assembly Constituency falling in Lakhuti Village. However the reports submitted by the respective Micro-Observers did not contain any mention of mal-practices having occurred during polling, stated the ARO report. It was also informed that Micro Observers were appointed to all the above Polling Stations and also that the agents of the INC candidate appended signatures, suggesting that there was no complaint on the conduct of poll.
The ARO Wokha, disclosed in his report that a former MLA and prominent member of the Indian National Congress in the state had telephoned him on polling day (April 9, 2014) informing that the “polling process was going on smoothly in Lakhuti village, where he said he was stationed”. The ARO contended that in case of any suspicion of electoral mal practice as suggested by the video clips, Sulanthung would have reported in the said phone call.
On other allegations, the RO expressed regret that after having continuously carried out the scrutiny in the most transparent manner, he was being “accused of clandestinely picking up two polling stations for re-poll”. He stated that the entire process of scrutiny was video recorded should there be any doubts on the role of the RO and that every effort was made to detect any malpractice.
He further stated that it was not aware of any rule wherein polling stations recording over 98% of voting should be recommended for re-poll. In fact, the RO was of the opinion that the high percentage of voting shows the effectiveness of the SVEEP campaign carried out in Nagaland state.
