Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland Tuesday said that filing nominations for the ensuing Assembly elections would begin as per the schedule, saying the decision of the civil society groups and political parties should not affect the election schedules.
State election department is all set to begin formal election process on January 31, 2018, when it issues election notification.
Briefing media persons at his office here, CEO Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, said that representatives of the all political parties attended the meeting convened by the department on Tuesday. On the total bandh warned by the CCNTHCO, Sinha said the state election department and ECI were aware but in no way it would hamper the election schedules and process.
He said that after issuing election notification, intending candidates could file nomination in the offices of returning officers (ROs) from 11am to 3pm. He said the nomination period was till February 7, 2018.
Patel also informed that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies have started to arrive the state. He informed that about 280 companies were expected to arrive for election duty. Basic minimum facilities for the CAPF are being looked into by the SPs in each district, he said.
CEO stated that this time the ROs were either ADC or SDO. There are seven ROs based in DC offices due to inadequate infrastructure. CEO also informed that there were 55 ROs for 60 assembly constituencies, because some ROs would be holding two charges.
Further, CEO Nagaland said that 55 election observers — 22 expenditure observers: 22 general observers and 11 police observers – would be arriving for Nagaland state election.
He said expenditure observers were already in the state while general and police observers would reach on February 7. In each AC, the CEO said there would be three flying squads which were already in place.
Election department has also arranged 555 web-casting to monitor polling booths by the election officials from within and outside the state. In the remaining polling stations, fixed camera would be placed.
CEO said election preparedness was almost completed in all the districts. He said the machines and polling materials have already been sent to the district while some more would be received after Tripura polls.
For vehicle requisition, CEO said the requirement was more than 9500 vehicles. However, he said since there was shortage, more than 400 vehicles was requisitioned from Assam. He said the department was in touch with Assam transport authority working out the modalities.
CEO added that if any candidate was refrained or not allowed to file nomination, the candidates could approach the ROs/SPs.
Meanwhile, CEO said intensive trainings with hands on EVMs and VVPAT was held. He pointed out that VVPAT would be used for the first time across the state and from now on it will be used for any elections in the state.
Also, to create awareness on VVPAT, CEO Nagaland said VVPAT display was carried out in all the districts as it was the target of the commission to reach to every villages and wards in towns before polls.
CEO said elaborate arrangements was made for the polling personnel to vote through postal ballot including police personnel’s while for service voters, voting will be done through Electronic Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETBS).
Affirming that the department was all prepared for the polls, CEO appealed to everyone not to vitiate this election process.
Saturday, May 2, 2026