A total electorate of 11,97,436 and spread over 2196 polling stations will cast their votes in the May 28 Lok Sabha by-election.
Disclosing this at a press meet Saturday at Commissioner’s Office, Kohima CEO Nagaland Abhijit Sinha said that there are 1723 polling stations in rural areas and 473 in urban. Of these he said 253 number were all-women polling teams and two polling party for differently- abled persons in Wokha.
Sinha also stated that 225 polling stations will have web streaming and 275 polling stations offline videography. He also said there are 211 vulnerable and 260 critical polling stations. In view of this, he said the state machineries were also ready for any road obstructions with almost 20,000 personnel on polling duty.
On availability of EVMs and VVPATs Sinha said there are 3196 ballot units, 3143 control units and 3075 VVPATs.
In 2018 the percentage of voters turn-out was 84.27%, whereas it was 88.25% in 2014 and 90.26% in 2009. Sinha also said that counting of postal ballots will take place in 13 centres including commissioner’s office.
Commissioner and Returning Officer M. Patton IAS said the law and order situation in the state was conducive to conduct of election. He said those engaged for polling duty, will be issued “Election Duty Certificate” to exercise their franchise from any of the voting centres. The service ballot will be counted at the Commissioner’s office.
On the complaint made by the NDPP-BJP that NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu made inflammatory statement, Patton said police had registered a case and investigation was in process.
He also said that the minister of urban development was issued with a show cause notice for promising to award cash incentives to the constituency with the maximum voting percentage. Patton said the minster denied the allegation made by the NPF.
On the NDPP allegation that the NPF candidate had presented a Mithun to a community during election campaign, Patton said the community had denied the report in the press on Saturday.
He also stated that the DC/ARO Phek has taken preventive measures against the report that one village council under Meluri Sub Division had decided to vote for a particular candidate and disallow the rest.