At least 75 per cent of 11,91,513 voters exercised their franchise till 4.30 p.m. for the Assembly polls on Tuesday in Nagaland, where the BJP in alliance with newly formed Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is trying to dislodge the Naga People’s Front (NPF) which has been in power for three-consecutive terms.
As per official sources, district-wise voting percentage till 4.30 p.m. was– Dimapur 70%, Peren 70%, Kohima 72%, Phek 78%, Pughoboto 88%, Mokokchung 82%, Zunheboto 76%, Wokha 81%, Mon 73%, Longleng 77%, Tuensang 76% and Kiphire 73%.
It may be pointed out that counting of votes will be held on March 3.
“Though voting ended at 4 p.m., a huge numbers of voters were still waiting in queues at a large number of polling stations across the state,” Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha.
Sinha said voting percentage was expected to increase.
CEO said his office received 16 complaints from various political mostly for re-polling. The complaints will be forwarded to ECI after the scrutiny of the EVMs and VVPATS on Wednesday from 11 a.m. Only after this, he said ECI will decide and if required re-poll will be fixed either on March 1 or 2, CEO said. There were reports of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in many polling stations which were rectified.
Up for grab are 59 assembly seats (one seat went to NDPP when its CM candidate– Neiphiu Rio, was declared elected unopposed).
Interestingly in Mokokchung and Wokha districts, though the most poll related violence were reported, the polling passed off peacefully with few stray incidents.
However, in one polling station at Mongsenbai ward under Mokokchung Town A/C, an elderly man who was standing in queue to cast his vote, reportedly collapsed after suffering from stroke. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at the district hospital.
Despite efforts being made to implement ‘one-man-one vote’, there were reports of rampant proxy voting across the state. Fake voter slips were being used for such proxy voting with the official seal and signature of the issuing authority.
In Longleng district, voting at polling station no. 1-Ladigarh under 49 Tamlu A/C was reportedly halted by Assam Police personnel, denying the electorates to exercise their right to vote.
Three-time chief minister and former Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio of the NDDP said: “We are confident of emerging as the single largest party and will unseat the NPF from power in Nagaland.”
However, chief minister, T.R. Zeliang voiced confidence that the NPF will retain power. “We are confident we will emerge as the single-largest party on March 3 when votes are counted. We will retain power and lead the next government,” Zeliang said after casting his vote.
In Dimapur, polling was peaceful with huge women voter turn-out.
Though there were reports of technical issues with the VVPAT machines in some polling station, timely intervention allowed polling to resume.
Some stray incidents at polling stations under 4-Ghaspani-I A/C were reported.
DC & DEO Dimapur, Sushil Kumar said no complaints were received from any polling station.
Adequate security measures were put in place to monitor and prevent any untoward incidents.
In Kohima district, voting in six assembly constituencies passed off peacefully. Former chief minister and NPF president, Dr. Shürhozielie Liezietsu casted his vote at L- Khel Upper 1 Polling station.
In all the other districts voting passed of peacefully.
In polling station no. 1 in Meluri, Sinha said an unruly mob damaged the EVM machine while polling was going on and no poll was held after that.
Sinha said some areas in Phek were quiet tensed but the DC and security personnel had brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile, Church groups and individuals, as part of the NBCC’s clean election campaign, also took active part to remind the voters to abide by ‘one man, one vote’.