Campaigning ends

Campaigning by political parties ended on  February 25(Sunday) at 4 pm, 48 hours before the end of polling on February 27,2018, reported Media Cell of CEO.
In view of one candidate declared elected unopposed from  11-Northern Angami-II, a total of 195 candidates will contest the remaining 59 assembly constituencies to the 13th NLA.
Of the 60 seats one seat Dimapur-I is open for general candidate and the rest being reserved for ST candidates.  There are 11,91,530 voters this time, an increase of about 2000 from the last General Election.
CEO informed that since November, polling stations have been classified under three categories- Critical, Vulnerable and Normal. In the previous election,  if voting was more than 75% or a candidate got 75% of the votes or where there are complaints or booth capturing falls, such a station was classified as Critical category. In cases of threat of intimidation to voters or  element of violence, such a polling station fell under Vulnerable category while others fell under Normal Category. Presently there are 1100 Critical, 530 Vulnerable and 566 Normal polling stations which  classified by DCs, SPs and respective administrative officers.
Nagaland will go to polls on February 27, 2018 and counting will take place on March 3,2018.
Two former and the present chief minister are in the fray for the February 27 election to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly which will witness 53 sitting MLAs in the fray including – first timers out of a total of — candidates.
This time there are five (5) female candidates, the highest ever and promises to end total male dominance in state politics. Of the five female candidates, two are from NPP, one BJP, one NDPP and one Independent.
The new entrants to the assembly election are, Dimapur-based Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) which has set up 40 candidates, Meghalaya-based National People’s Party (NPP) has set up 25 candidates and Aam Admi Party (AAP) has set up 3 candidates. The other parties in the fray include BJP which has set up 20 candidates, NPF 58, JDU which has set up 13 candidates, INC 18 candidates, NCP has set up 6 candidates, LJP has set up 2 candidates and 11 Independents.
Former chief minister Neiphiu Rio who is the NDPP chief ministerial candidate was declared elected unopposed after the NPF candidate Chupfuo Kense withdrew from the race on health issues.
Present chief minister T. R. Zeliang who is the chief ministerial candidate for the ruling NPF is locked in a straight fight with NDPP candidate and retired police officer Iherie Ndang in 7-Peren A/C.
Another former chief minister K.L. Chishi joined BJP recently and is contesting from his previous constituency at 32 Atoizu A/C against sitting NPF legislator Er. Picto Sema.