Morung Express News
Kohima | June 29
Contrary to events on the ground, the State Election Commission (SEC) reiterated what it claimed on June 26.
After counting closed on June 29, the SEC Commissioner, T John Longkumer, addressed a press conference in Kohima, wherein he said that the election process was concluded without any serious incidents barring some minor incidences.
Longkumer, an IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, retired as the Nagaland Police chief in January 2023.
He did not specify the nature of the alleged minor incidences but as spelt out, it included unexplained event(s) that led to re-poll in polling station-4 in Ward-20, Dimapur Municipal Council.
Attributing the re-poll to complaints received, he said that a case has been registered under the Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA), 2023. The re-poll apparently would not be the end of it. He said, “Case will be investigated. We will see it through to its logical end.”
In Mokokchung, he added that a case has been registered following a formal complaint made by the Congress party to the Returning Officer (RO). No details were provided on the nature of the complaint or incident.
The total of preventive detentions made by the police stood at 553 individuals or potential trouble-makers, out of which 300 were from Dimapur. Some 21 other cases were registered in relation to reports of scuffles and incidents of intimidations resulting in the arrest of 22 persons.
In connection to the recovery of a pistol from an allegedly abandoned car (AS 12K2934) on the polling day in Dimapur, he informed that investigation is going on to identify the culprit.
The unidentified individual, who was detained with over Rs 2 lakh, in the vicinity of a polling station in Rail Bazaar, Dimapur, was released. Longkumer said that the cash amounting to Rs 2,48,730 was verified to be the individual’s own, reportedly for business purpose.
Alleged violation by MLA
On the polling day controversy in East Dimapur Town Council, involving NDPP MLA, Hekani Jakhalu Kense, the Commissioner said that the SEC was still to receive a formal complaint.
“We have also discussed a lot. As of today, we are still waiting for any written complaint. We are not an investigating agency. Anyone who have any objections should have written a complain letter to the RO, and based on the report, we would have reacted,” he said.
He maintained that “without the expressed permission of the presiding officer, nobody can enter” a polling station. He informed that the SEC has written to the RO to send a report. After which, it will be send to the government for action, if any.
Missing NOTA
Meanwhile, queried why there was no the None of the Above (NOTA) option in this election, SEC Under Secretary, T Khupa said, the Act and the rules of NMA 2023 has no provision for NOTA. “Which is why, we cannot simply frame something which is not there in the Act,” he said. However, he said that it can be considered in the future.
Commissioner Longkumer added that SEC cannot be equated with the Election Commission of India, the latter overseeing the conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
Terming the SEC as independent of the ECI, he said, “We have our own Municipal Act, we have our own electoral rolls and we have our own rules, so we have to act within these rules. Some of the rules and regulations may be similar but the Municipal Act and the rules and regulations of Nagaland state has been notified by the State Assembly and we follow it.”
Catapult man
One individual was caught with catapults, shots and radio set outside a polling station in Ward-2, DMC, as polling began on June 26. The detained individual, said to be Kiyasetuo Kengurusie, was later reported to be a ULB election winner of the NDPP, who won a seat unopposed in the Chiephobozo Town Council.
Longkumer said that a case has been registered and investigation was on. He added a disclaimer, stating, “In the end, it is the morality of the candidates and the voters, and it is not our responsibility. Besides, it’s upto the party also, to look into it and take appropriate action.”
