Dimapur, May 15 (MExN): The Nagaland state Congress today surfaced with the serious charge that adult franchise was denied to citizens of Toulazou Tenyimi village under Dimapur III, through a village council ‘order’ supporting only the ruling party. The NPCC today dispatched a complaint to the Election Commission of India outlining the coup on citizens’ votes by the village’s authority while re-poll for the said area has been demanded.
Enclosed with the complaint was an order of Toulazou Tenyimi village council “to support the ruling party for the ensuing MP and by-election of Dimapur III.” Five persons were also named in the village council’s order expelling them from the village for “not abiding by the resolution and decision of the council.” The village’s authority imposed strict rule supporting only the ruling party, the NPCC said.
The NPCC reminded that the said practice and conduct is totally against the democratic norms of elections and also against the Model Code of Conduct. The Congress has requested the ECI’s authority to intervene into the matter and cancel all votes cast. Free and fair re-poll should be conducted to uphold the democratic principles of the constitution, the NPCC stated.
In a clear breach of democratic sanction and right to free conscience to citizens, the enclosed copy of the village’s council “declaration/notification” clearly stated to have “sought to cooperate with the government” and “came to understanding on 7th March ’09 to support the ruling party for the ensuing MP and by-election of Dmp-III, held on April 16…” The village council asserted in its “declaration/notification” to “check its members, and take action if any individual goes against its council decision for their own selfish interest.”
The Toulazou Tenyimi village “declaration/notification” then said “some vested individuals/persons went against the village decision.” Five persons were named as expelled from the village for violating the “declaration. The five persons were asked to “vacate the village with all their belongings” on or before May 25, 2009.
