Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 26
After a month of campaigning, which has been marked by violence in certain districts, and political mudslinging between parties, Nagaland State goes to polls on Tuesday, February 27.
NLA seats from 59 Assembly Constituencies of 11 districts will be up for grabs, with 195 candidates from 9 political parties and independents in the fray. It may be noted that the representative for 11-Northern Angami-II was elected uncontested.
There are 11,70,548 voters set to exercise their franchise in 2156 polling stations across the state.
The polling time in 103 polling stations spread over six districts will be from 7:00am to 3: 00pm, while the polling time for the remaining 2053 polling stations is 7:00am to 4:00pm. The ECI has marked 1062 polling stations as critical, 530 as vulnerable and 564 as normal.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha today informed that in addition to poll day duty, government employees have also been deployed as sector magistrates attached to various election cells, election expenditure monitoring teams and other election management related duty.
For polling duties, altogether, 17, 532 polling personnel have been put in place comprising 15, 523 on actual poll duty and approximately 2000 for other election related duty such as sector officers, EEM teams, web casting, micro observer etc.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in all the polling stations. Electors who do not want to vote for any of the candidates can exercise their option by pressing the button against None of the Above (NOTA) in EVMs and VVPATs.
432 micro observers who are central government employees are being deployed across the 59 constituencies. There will be deployment of CAPF at all the polling stations.
As part of the poll day security measures, Sector in-charges and striking forces have been prepositioned in strategic areas covering 280 sectors.
The CEO today informed that since the initiation of arms deposition, 5443 arms have been deposited. A drive to take maximum preventive action is going on and so far 2700 preventive actions have been taken. He informed that SST/Check posts have been installed to check the movement of contraband and there are a total of 84 SSTs across the state.
So far, the CEO informed that 41 FIRs have been registered on account of electoral offences and 81 persons arrested, adding that most of the offences pertain to group clashes between supporters of different political parties.
Most of the law and order issues, he added, arise from the practices of village councils issuing diktats to vote for a particular candidate thus vitiating the atmosphere. The CEO said that FIRs have been registered in this account in certain villages.
The violence has so far resulted in the death of one person and 23 reported injuries, the CEO revealed.
He further stated that considerable seizures of intoxicants and currency have made by law enforcing agencies. In this connection, 46 non-bailable warrants have been executed since the announcement of election.
The CEO meanwhile appealed to the electorate to come out and exercise their franchise on February 27, while urging for ethical and informed voting in line with the principle of ‘One man One Vote.’
Additional CEO, N Moa Aier informed that the public and the electors are free to move around, however candidates and parties are not allowed to ferry voters. The persons allowed inside the Polling Station are electors, polling officers, candidate, candidate’s agent and one polling agent of each candidate at a time, persons authorised by the ECI, public servants on duty, child in arms accompanying an elector, a person helping a voter who cannot move and other persons the presiding officer may decide from time to time for purpose of identifying a voter or assist him/her to vote.
It may be noted that the Commission has directed that identified Persons with Disabilities be assisted by volunteers appointed by the RO/DEO. PwD electors are to be given priority for entering polling booths, and provided provision for designated parking spaces close to the entrance of polling premise.
In addition, there are 178 All Women Polling Teams out of 2156 Polling Station (i.e. 8%) across all the 12 Election Districts. The district-wise break up of all Women Polling Stations are: Dimapur – 26, Peren – 11, Kohima – 9, Pughoboto – 7,Phek – 5, Mokokchung – 32, Zunheboto, – 6, Wokha – 20, Mon – 30,Longleng – 16, Tuensang – 15, and Kiphire—1.
Scrutiny of votes will be conducted on February 28 at 11:00am by the respective ROs and General Observers along with either the Candidate or his/her agent. Counting is scheduled for March 3 at 8:00am at 59 halls in 12 locations throughout the state.
