Over 83% turnout in historic Nagaland Municipal elections

No polling in ENPO bloc

Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kohima | June 27

Nagaland completed its first elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) after a long 20-year wait on June 26, 2024. The ULB elections were delayed as the state government faced violent opposition from the tribal organisations resenting the provision for reserving 33 percent of seats for women. The organisations eventually relented after the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 was repealed and replaced with a new Act in 2023. The new Act incorporated the provision for seat reservation but did not include property taxation.  

The election process, however, could not be held in the six districts, dominated by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) bloc, which boycotted the elections on account of the unfulfilled Government of India pledge for the proposed Frontier Naga Territory. The ENPO bloc account for 14 ULBs— 3 in Kiphire, 2 in Longleng, 5 in Mon, 1 in Noklak, 1 in Shamator and 2 in Tuensang. 

After the poll process completed at 4:00 pm, the State Election Commission (SEC) tipped the polling percentage at 83 percent (provisional) in the rest of the ULBs, including 3 Municipal Councils that went to polls.  

The SEC told journalists in Kohima that there was no report of poll related violence or report for re-poll from any part of the state. This information however was contrary to events on the ground that included violent confrontations at certain locations in the Mokokchung Municipal Council and widespread use of brute numbers to dominate queues at polling stations in the Dimapur Municipal Council.  

Refuses press con
The SEC, T John Longkumer refused to convene a formal press conference to update about the day’s poll process defying convention. Longkumer said that the Commission was in the process of compiling figures and a formal press call will have to be deferred until after the declaration of results on June 29. 

It later issued a brief press release, sometime after 9:00 pm, informing that the polling process was held “peacefully” spread across 420 Polling Stations and 214 Wards in the 24 Municipalities. It however added, “The polls went smoothly in all Polling Stations except in 1 (One) under Dimapur Municipal Council, the matter of which is under the examination of the State Election Commission for further action.” 

It repeated what was public knowledge already, stating that a total of 523 candidates, including 325 males and 198 females were in the fray. 

The release said that the poll percentage was 83.54 percent as “recorded at the time of updating reports received.” Atoizu Town Council recorded the highest voter turnout at 95.47%, while Changtongya Town Council registered the lowest turnout with 67.70%. It informed that re-poll, if any, will be taken on June 28 “as notified in the Election Programme” and the counting of votes will be on June 29 “at the approved Counting Centres.”

A pistol, catapults & cash
In Dimapur, the police confirmed rounding up atleast 300 individuals from various locations and placing them in preventive custody. According to a senior police official, the police started rounding up bands of potential trouble-makers starting June 25. The official did not disclose the party affiliations but said that a majority of the individuals were detained on the night before polling day. An unspecified number were rounded up in the morning before polling began.

Among the weapons seized included a pistol and an unspecified number of catapults. Atleast 40 catapults were seized the night before and on polling day. 

The official further said that the police started confiscating catapult rubber bands from shops since a month prior as a preventive measure. He added that the seized items will be returned to the shops once the election process is completed.  

The pistol was seized from a car, which was parked near a polling station in Ward-23. It was a .32 calibre with 7 rounds. According to the police, the car remained parked at the location rousing suspicion. No person was arrested in this connection. 

At the Rail Bazaar, an unnamed individual was detained with Rs 2.3 lakhs in cash, also near a polling station. The police suspect the cash was intended for proxy voters. He was not caught in the act however. 

“Commotions” were reported from Purana Bazaar, which falls in the East Dimapur Municipal Council and in Ward-5, DMC, which were controlled, the police said. 

Heavy police deployment was observed in certain DMC wards deemed as “sensitive.” In New Market, Ward-19, all entry points were sealed off except two on the north and south ends, for entry and exit. The route leading to the two polling stations set up in the New Market fish bazaar was monitored by police personnel at various points, starting with a check by a metal detector. STF, NAP (IR), NAP and DEF personnel made up the force, deployed in New Market. 

“Police personnel were deployed as per the situation assessments,” said a senior official.  

There was no official government update about the polling related incidents of violence in the Mokokchung Municipal Council.

Alleged NDPP ULB winner with catapults
As polling began in the morning, one man was captured by the police, right outside a polling station in the DMC Ward-2, from whose possession catapults were confiscated. The detained individual was reported to be an NDPP candidate, who won a seat unopposed in the Chiephobozo Town Council. The said Town Council falls under the 11 Northern Angami II Assembly seat held by the Chief Minister. The police however maintained that it was yet to ascertain the antecedents of the individual. The ruling NDPP also remained mum.

No NOTA 
A surprise awaited the voters accustomed to seeing the None of the Above (NOTA) option in the Electronic Voting Machines, used in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections since 2013. The ballot paper issued for the Nagaland ULB polls 2024 did not bear the NOTA option. There was no explanation from the SEC for the missing NOTA.