OVER 80 PC VOTER TURNOUT, RE-POLL ORDERED IN DMC WARD 20 ON JUNE 28
Barring some minor incidents, the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections held on Wednesday across Nagaland passed off peacefully, with no major incident reported.
More than 83 per cent of the over 2.23 lakh electorate on Wednesday exercised their franchise in the Nagaland civic polls, officials said. This is a historic election for the state, as the civic body polls were conducted after a gap of 20 years and the first time with 33 per cent women reservation.
However, Town councils under Eastern Nagaland abstained from taking part in the polls in view of the ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ demand.
Voting for 25 urban local bodies (ULBs) in 10 districts began at 7:30 am amid tight security and continued till 4 pm, he said. “The ULB polling was peacefully held in 25 municipalities spread across 420 polling stations and 214 wards. A provisional poll percentage of 83.54 was recorded,” State Election Commissioner (SEC) T John Longkumer said.
Longkumer said the polls were conducted smoothly in all polling stations, except in one under the Dimapur Municipal Council. The votes will be counted on June 29.
Meanwhile, SEC has ordered re-polling in Ward 20 under DMC on June 28. The re-poll will be held at polling station no. 4 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DIMAPUR: In Dimapur, the elections covered 21 wards (2 uncontested) under Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and three wards (4 uncontested) under the East Dimapur Town Council (EDTC) and 11 wards in Chümoukedima town.
Reports indicated that while the elections proceeded smoothly in some regions, other areas witnessed confrontations among party supporters, leading to scuffles and increased tension, allegations of electoral malpractice, including voter intimidation, vote-buying, and interference at polling stations.
Over 300 detained: Commissioner of Police (CP), Dimapur, K Sophie informed Nagaland Post that in the past three days the police had made preventive arrest of more than 300 persons. Besides seizure of one .32 pistol with 7 live rounds, police also seized a Maruti alto car, 400 nos. catapults and 600 packets of marbles. He revealed that one person was arrested with pistol at Naga Gaon, while another individual with cash.
NDPP candidate from Kohima detained: One NDPP candidate was detained by Dimapur Police at the polling station near Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) complex. The candidate, Kiyasetuo Kengurusie, who won uncontested from Ward 5 under Chiephobozou Town Council, Kohima, was detained with catapults detained by the police.
Cash seizure: At Railway Government High School area under Ward-6 in Dimapur, a party supporter was detained with a significant amount of cash at the polling station.
According to sources, the individual claimed innocence, stating the money was intended for personal purposes, but was detained by the police on charges of possessing and distributing the money. Prompt police intervention led to the detainment of the worker and confiscation of the cash.
Tagged “hyper sensitive”, polling at New Market under Ward-19 in Dimapur witnessed smooth polling, reflecting a commitment to maintaining peace and order. To maintain order and ensure the safety of voters, barricades were set up on both sides of entry points to the polling station.
Speaking to the media, New Market GB Khekishe Aye expressed satisfaction at the peaceful conduct of the election. He highlighted the absence of tensions, commending both candidates for opting for a fair contest, contributing to the calm and orderly environment.
In Ward-13, under the polling station at the sub divisional office (PHED), allegations of booth capturing and electoral misconduct was reported.
The rival candidate from the Congress alleged that party observers were barred from entering, while observers of the NDPP were allowed. The Congress candidate said she intended to lodge a formal complaint with the returning officer regarding these incidents.
While the NDPP candidate declined to comment on the allegations, Landmark Colony Council chairman Longri Imsong clarified that he was unaware of any complaint. He said polling was peaceful as per Ward-13’s regulations and outsiders were restricted from entering the polling station during voting. Distancing the council from involvement in such matters, he maintained that decisions regarding observer access rested solely with the presiding officer.
Violation of MCC: Responding to allegations of violation of Model Code of Conduct(MCC) on the polling day at Naharbari where she was accused of entering a polling station in Ward 10 East Dimapur Town Council , Adviser Industries and Commerce Hekani Jakhalu said she had gone to report a complaint with the Returning Officer after coming to know that NDPP supporters were sought to be influenced by outsiders.
Hekani said as the MLA of 3 Dimapur III Assembly Constituency she had only gone to inform the presiding officer of the matter. Amidst the commotion, Hekani told media persons outside the polling station that Ward 10 had mostly voters from the minority community who were NDPP supporters but some outsiders had gone to intimidate them to vote for the rival candidate.
The Ward No 10 falls under women reservation. Meanwhile, supporters of Independent candidate held placards that had rules governing the MCC outside the polling station. They protested against the Advisers entry into the polling station. They also chanted slogans such as “She is not aware of rules”, “Entry of outsiders into polling station is prohibited”, “Abuse of power”, etc.
More than 80% polling recorded in Kohima
Correspondent: Polling to 14 wards of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) out of the 19 saw a relatively peaceful voting process with some sporadic scuffles reported from some wards.
With councillors from five wards having been already elected unopposed, the remaining wards with 35 candidates — 18 male and 17 female — went to the polls.
KMC has six wards reserved for women where one candidate was already elected unopposed, while six female candidates are contesting from unreserved wards.
Incidents of minor scuffle among different party workers were also reported where police was called in to diffuse the situation.
However, no official report of complaints being lodged from either the State Election Commission or the police had been received. Ward 16, comprising NMH, Lerie, NST and Diary Farm, recorded the highest number of votes with 4,737 votes. In contrast, Daklane witnessed the lowest number of votes cast with 986 ballots.
Talking to Nagaland Post, Roko Angami, chairman of Pezielietsie Welfare Board that falls under 3 North Block ward, said the polling at the Veterinary Hospital was peaceful as it always had even in the past elections.
He said voter turnout at the polling station was 86%, while overall for the ward it was around 80%.
Ward 13 chairman Lhouliebeio Khezhie disclosed that polling stations under the ward recorded around 75% voter turnout.
He said that leaders from different political parties observing the situation at various polling stations had described the ward as the most peaceful among the wards under KMC.