Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar said that the repoll in four polling stations in Zunheboto, Wokha, Mon and Noklak districts held on Wednesday ended successfully.
Addressing a press conference here, CEO disclosed that repolling at New Colony polling station under 35-Zunheboto assembly constituency registered a voting percentage of 54.16%, 39-Sanis constituency in Wokha registered 67.66% voting, Jaboka village in Tizit recorded 97.55% and Pathso East Wing under 57-Thonoknyu constituency under Noklak district recorded 69.81%.
He pointed out, based on reports submitted by general observers after taking all material circumstances into account, Election Commission of India (ECI) had declared repolling at four polling stations. He said the reason for repoll in Zunheboto and Noklak districts was proxy voting as per videography evidences and scrutiny of election-related documents, while repoll was held in Mon and Wokha districts since the presiding and polling officials did not follow the standard procedure/protocols during the polling process.
Shekhar said that elaborate arrangements have been put in place for counting of votes on Thursday whereby all 59 Assembly constituencies (AC) would be monitored independently by 59 counting observers of ECI. He mentioned that postal ballots would be counted first and, after 30 minutes, counting of votes in EVMs would start in all AC counting halls from 8 am.
He said votes of all 59 ACs would be counted in separate rooms – 33 AC in pre-constructed separate rooms and 26 ACs would be accommodated in a big hall with partition for each AC.
He revealed that Mokokchung district would have the highest counting tables– 49.
Shekhar stated that elaborate security arrangements too had been put into place, while one of the counting tables in the counting hall would be a VVPAT counting booth for counting VVPATs.
He said paper slips of randomly selected five polling stations per AC and mandatory verification of paper slips would be done. Counting of VVPAT paper slips would be done under CCTV coverage and CCTV coverage for movement of EVMs and VVPATs from strong rooms to counting hall was also arranged, he added.
CEO on Noklak incident: Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland V Shashank Shekhar attributed the loss of one life in Noklak district to a law and order issue and disclosed that post-mortem would be conducted on Thursday.
Addressing the media in Kohima, he, however, maintained that the situation was now under control and that arrangements had been made to ensure that there was no disruption to the counting of votes.
He said a three-member team comprising of one administrative officer, one police officer and one ECI observer had reached Noklak to monitor the law-and-order situation.
Responding to a query, Shekhar mentioned that the dead body was with the police and that he would not be able to comment further on the matter until the post-mortem was conducted.
