DIMAPUR, MARCH 1 (MExN): The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in 12 booths of eight assembly constituencies in Nagaland, two days after the state and neighbouring Meghalaya voted for new assemblies.  

In a letter to the Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer, the ECI directed that the re-polls in the specified polling stations be done on Friday, March 2 between 7:00am and 3:00pm. The Nagaland CEO issued a separate statement declaring polls to those booths.  

The booths where polling will be held again fall in Peren, Kohima Town, Chizami, Phek, Meluri, Tizit, Longkhim Chare and Pungro Kiphire.  

Without going into the reason for the re-poll, the ECI letter said voting in 12 booths was declared void “on the basis of reports submitted and after taking all material circumstances into account”.  

Chief Minister TR Zeliang is the Naga People’s Front candidate from Peren. Independent Rekha Rose Dukru, one of the five women in fray, is contesting from Chizami.  

Updated turnout

Meanwhile, the Nagaland CEO today updated its earlier figures on poll turnout to 80.95%, with 79.09 % male and 82.85% female.  

Counting of votes in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, which voted on February 18, will be held on Saturday, March 3.  

Fresh poll at Ladigarh

The Nagaland CEO has meanwhile called for fresh polls at Ladigarh polling station under 49 Tamlu A/C on March 2. Polls could not take place here on February 27 as Assam Police personnel had reportedly obstructed polling officials from reaching the station.  

“After taking all material circumstances into account, the Commission hereby declares, under Section 57 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 that the poll taken on 27th February, 2018 (Tuesday) at Polling Station No I -Ladigarh under 49-Tamlu (ST) Assembly Constituency to be void,” the ECI had stated in a letter to the Nagaland CEO. Polls for Ladigarh will be conducted at a temporary structure in a nearby location, the CEO informed.  

KVYO cautions against malpractice

The Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) has on its part expressed regret and condemned those responsible for the situation which necessitated the conduct of re-poll.  

Reiterating its previous resolutions to ensure smooth conduct of elections in our traditional jurisdictions, the KVYO informed that it would be on the spot to assist the colony panchayat and official government agencies to ensure that no disturbance is repeated at the polling booth.  

The KVYO advised the electorate to have on them official identity cards with the voter's slip to avoid any misunderstanding. It cautioned that the organization would be exercising 'zero tolerance' against any individual or group of people not registered at the polling booth and found to be interfering in the re-polling process. “Proxy voters and elements causing public disturbances will face swift responses to their actions,” it warned.  

It further acknowledged the electorate, every colony panchayat and colony youth leaders under Kohima Town, Northern, Southern and Western A/C polling stations under its jurisdiction for overseeing and assisting the government officials in successfully conducting peaceful polling.  

The Returning Officer for 9 Kohima Town A/C meanwhile notified the polling agents of the NPF and NDPP to be present at the said polling station by 5:30am on March 2.  

Counting of votes on March 3

DIMAPUR, MARCH 1 (MExN): The counting of votes will take place on March 3 from 08:00am onwards. A press note from the Nagaland CEO informed that counting for Dimapur district would take place at DC Office, Dimapur; and for Tening and Peren at DB’s Court, Peren and Old DC’s Conference Hall respectively.  

For 8-Western Angami AC counting will be held at DB’s Court, DC Office Complex, Kohima; 9-Kohima Town AC at DC Office, Kohima; 10-Northern Angami-I AC at DRDA Conference Hall, DC Office Complex Kohima; 12-Tseminyu AC at DPDB Hall, DC Office Complex, Kohima;both 14-Southern Angami-I AC and 15-Southern-II AC at Pensioner Office Building, Ground Floor, DC Office Complex.  

Counting for 13-pughoboto AC will be held at DB’s Court, ADC Office Complex. Counting for all the constituencies under Phek district will be held at New DC’s Office Building, Phek. Under Mokokchung district, counting for all the constituencies will be held at Town Hall, Mokokchung. Venue for counting under Zunheboto District is at Town Hall, Zunheboto.  

For Wokha district, counting of all constituencies will be held at Tiyi Hall, Tsumang Colony, Wokha Town. For Mon District, counting will be held at DC Office Complex, Mon.  

Both the constituencies under Longleng District will be held at the DC Conference, Longleng. Votes from all the constituencies under Mon District will be counted at DC Office Complex, Mon. For both 49-Tamlu AC and 50-Longleng AC under Longleng District, counting will be held at DC Conference Hall, Longleng.  

Meanwhile, votes from all constituencies under Tuensang will be counted at St. John’s Higher Secondary School, Tuensang. Under Kiphire District, counting will be held at DC Office, Kiphire.