Accuses the government of flouting rules and regulation to serve its interest
Dimapur, January 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today charged the State Government of misusing power and misleading the innocent general public by extending nomination date for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The Party is “dumbfounded” to observe the misuse of power by the Government of the day, a press note from NPCC Vice President, Khriedi Theünuo noted, further accusing the former of using the State Election Commission (SEC) to serve its own interest.
“The NPF-led DAN government in the State, which has developed the habit of turning the rules and regulations for their own motives has once again misguided the people by using the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2003 in extending the last date of filing nominations to the January 1, 2017 elections to ULBs,” it said.,
According to NPCC, while the January 7 SEC’s notification stated “in exercise of the powers under sub rule (7) of Rule 20 of the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2003…,” it is applicable subject to the provisions of sub-rule (6), which stated that “The late date for making nomination, their scrutiny and withdrawal shall not be public holidays. If any of the last dates for these purposes happens to be a public holiday such nominations, scrutiny or withdrawal shall take place, the next succeeding day, which is not a public holiday”.
The Party reminded the SEC that last date of nomination “as per the programme schedule” for Municipal and Town Council Election in Nagaland was fixed for January 7, 2017 which was not a public holiday.
In this regard, that NPCC opined that the rules cited by the SEC, “which must have been done in consultation and under the directive of the State Government,” does not have any provisions for extension of the dates for nomination because of “not receiving nominations.”
“This is clear violation of the election process by the concern authority,” NPCC asserted adding that such misinterpretation of the given rules to mislead the innocent general public by those at the helm of affair to serve their interest is “not acceptable in the general interest of the public and also against the laid down rules for conducting the elections.”
If the State Government does not postpone and re-schedule ULBs elections after implementing the given rules for the general welfare, NPCC said that it would not deter to take up the matter with “appropriate forum.”
