DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (NPN): The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced by-elections to three municipal wards following casual vacancies under ward 11 of Chümoukedima Town Council (CTC), ward 8 of Wokha Town Council (WTC) and ward 9 of Atoizu Town Council (ATC).
In a press release, state election commissioner T John Longkumer said by-elections would be held for ward 11 (Chaara) under CTC, ward 8 (Tsumang B) under WTC and ward 9 (Samba Ghoki) under ATC under Section 30 of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023.
The vacancies were notified by the government on February 6 and March 30, 2026, while administrative approval for conduct of the elections was conveyed on April 15, 2026.
According to the schedule, publication of election programme would take place on May 15, while filing of nominations would be held from May 25-29 till 3 pm.
Scrutiny of nomination papers would be conducted on June 1 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed for June 5.
Polling would be held on June 16 from 7:30 am to 4 pm, while re-poll, if necessary, has been scheduled for June 18. Counting of votes and declaration of results would take place on June 19 from 8 am onward.
SEC informed that the electoral roll published on April 12, 2024 under the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2023 would be used for the elections.
Meanwhile, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect within the jurisdiction of the three town councils, including the poll-bound wards, and will remain in force till completion of the election process.
SEC said the MCC would apply to all candidates, political parties and the state government within the concerned jurisdictions.
SEC also informed that training for returning officers, assistant returning officers and district-level master trainers had been conducted, while election observers would be deployed for free and fair polls. The commission appealed to election officials, political parties, candidates, civil society organisations and electors to cooperate for smooth conduct of the elections.
SEC amends NDPP winners’ affiliation to NPF: SEC has notified that the party affiliation of elected NDPP candidates in the 2024 municipal and town council elections would stand amended as Naga People’s Front (NPF) following the official recognition of the merger between the two parties.
In a notification, SEC said the Election Commission of India (ECI), through an order issued on May 4, 2026, recognised the merger of NDPP with NPF based on a decision taken on October 18, 2025, following which NDPP ceased to exist as a separate political party.
SEC stated that the names of NDPP candidates declared elected in the 2024 municipal and town council elections had been published in the Nagaland Gazette on July 1, 2024.
In view of the merger, SEC said the party name “NDPP” against each corresponding elected member in the gazette notification would now stand amended as “NPF” for all practical purposes in the concerned municipalities.
The amendment has been made under the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023 and will take effect from the date of publication in the Nagaland Gazette.