Nagaland decides fate of 183 candidates today

Will not allow proxy voting, asserts CEO 

Morung Express News
Dimapur, Kohima | February 27 

Will Nagaland creates history by electing the first-ever women representative to the State Assembly? Will the ruling alliance retain power or will there be an opposition in the upcoming 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly? 

These, among others, would be vital questions for both the voters as well as observers as Nagaland goes to poll on February 27– the 14th time since its Statehood in 1963. 

The fate of 183 candidates, including 4 women candidates will be decided by a total electorate of over 13 lakh voters in 59 Assembly constituencies (ACs).

As per the latest figure provided by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland  on February 26, there 13,16,064 electorates in Nagaland, out of which one candidate has been already elected unopposed from Akuluto AC with 10683 voters, taking down the total electorate to  13,05,381.

The election will be held between 7 am to 4 pm across 2291 polling stations in 59 ACs, informed CEO V Shashank Shekhar in a release on Sunday. 

Nagaland is going to poll along with Meghalaya on Monday. 

By Sunday morning, most polling personnel were dispatched to their respective polling stations along with security and other apparatus. 

The CEO office had earlier informed that CCTV surveillance would be installed in all the critical/vulnerable polling stations across the State with either Webcasting or Videography. 

The camera will be mounted in the Polling Station at sufficient height and it shall be so placed to cover the maximum possible area in the polling station without compromising the secrecy of vote.

A minimum of 50% of polling stations in each district are being covered

On February 15, the CEO informed that webcasting would be done in all those sensitive Polling Stations where internet connection is feasible, to ensure free and fair elections. The rest will be covered by videography by fixed cameras and micro observers.

 “Webcasting will be done at 555 Polling Stations; Videography will be done at 1601 Polling Stations while Micro Observers will be deployed at 1010 Polling stations,” it then added. 

The run-up to the election has been marred violence in many parts of the State, including a death in a constituency under Mokohchung district.

Pre-poll violence were also reported from Mon, Dimapur and Wokha districts. 

Out of 183, candidates, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance has fielded the maximum candidate with at 59, with one already elected unopposed. 

Accordingly, 40 NDPP candidates and 19 from BJP are in the fray. 

Indian National Congress has the second highest number of candidates at 23, followed by 22 from the Naga People’s Front and 15 from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). There are 19 Independents while the Nationalist Congress Party and National People’s Party have 12 candidates each.

 The Republican Party of India (Athawale) have fielded 9 contenders while there are 7 Janata Dal United’s candidate. 
The CPI and Rising People’s Party have fielded a candidate each.  

Join ‘festival of democracy,’ appeals CEO
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the CEO Nagaland Shekhar has all voters of the state to come out fearlessly and enthusiastically to participate in this great exercise of democracy.

“The conduct of election is at the core of the democratic process of this country,” he said, further noting that  “each vote matters and that voters have the responsibility and power to decide the future of our state and thereby our own futures.”

“When we choose not to vote, we are giving up far more than just our franchise, we are also giving up our voice and allowing others to speak and decide for us,” the CEO added, reminding the voters to participate in the ‘festival of democracy.’

Shekhar further urged for avoiding “any malpractices/disturbance/violence etc., during the polling hour so as to conduct the election in a free, fair and peaceful manner.” 

He also informed that voters to contact their Booth Level Officer (BLO) for any assistance in locating their polling station,  and information relating to voter slips, documents required for identification etc.

“No proxy voting takes place in any polling station, except those person who has been authorise to vote as proxy for an elector under electoral law in so far as he votes as a proxy for such electors,” the CEO added.

“Ethical voting must be maintained throughout the polling process,”  he said further requesting all the Presiding Officers and Polling Officers to discharge their duties and responsibilities as per rules and maintain Law and Order inside the polling station as well as in the catchment area of their polling station.

February 27 has been declared a paid holiday by the state government to allow the voters to exercise their franchise without any hindrance. 
 

List of approved alternative photo ID cards for voting

•    Aadhaar Card
•    MGNREGA Job Card
•    Passbook with photograph issued by bank/post office
•    Health Insurance Smart Card issued un der the scheme of the Ministry of Labour
•    Driving License
•    PAN Card
•    Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR
•    Indian Passport
•    Pension document with photograph
•    Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment  
•    Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees of Central/State Government/PSUs/Public Limited Companies
•    Official Identity Cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
*Voter Identity Slips will not be allowed as proof of identity of voters. They are solely to facilitate voters