By : Newmai News Network
Kohima, Mar 5: Polling for the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly concluded in a relatively peaceful atmosphere with a record of 83.54 per cent electorates exercising their franchise to elect 60 representatives in 1766 polling stations spread over 12 electoral districts to decide the fate of 218 candidates for the 60 member Assembly in the state.
Briefing mediapersons at the commissioner’s office, Kohima this evening, chief electoral officer, Nagaland, CJ Ponraj, IAS said percentage of votes cast was about 83.5% excluding Zunheboto, as reports from the district were yet to arrive the headquarters.
He said the overall polling during the day went off peacefully without any major incidents being reported from any quarter except for some minor cases of harassment and threatening between rival political party supporters.
Nevertheless, sources from the districts have revealed that in Dimapur-I Assembly constituency, seven vehicles belonging to different political parties were damaged while nine electronic voting machines (EVMs) were destroyed throughout the state during the day, besides two blasts and arrest of two individuals at Wokha.
Peren recorded the highest turn out with 95 per cent while Kohima was the lowest with 77 per cent, he said, adding that the inclement weather throughout the state did not deter the voters from responding to their liabilities.
Maintaining that there had been much decrease in poll related violence compared to the polling day violence of previous elections, he said polling was quite peaceful without any physical injuries to any individual. He however revealed that two reports of bomb blasts, one each at Dimapur-III A/C and Phek Town A/C were received while two persons were arrested under 37-Tyui A/C, Wokha for trying to disturb the conduct of polls. Nine EVMs were damaged at 37 Tyui A/C – 5, 16 Pfutsero A/C – 1 and Tuensang Sadar-I A/C – 3. Besides, the commission received eight complaint letters demanding re-polling in eight polling stations. BJP filed two, NPF – two, RJD – two and one each from Congress and JD(U).
Interestingly, polling in 14 stations in four Assembly constituencies under Zunheboto district could not be held today as the returning officer and deputy commissioner, Zunheboto were unable to send polling personnel to the booths due to shortage of transportation. These were under 31 Akuluto polling booth numbers 7 Shitsumi village; under 33 Suruhuto A/C polling station numbers 2 Akhakhu village, 3 Yehemi, 20 Achikuchu ‘A’, 23 Koiboto; under 34 Aghunato A/C polling stations number 3 Yizutomi, 4 Ngozubami, 18 Viyilho, under 36 Sathakha A/C – polling booth no. 7 Satakha ‘A’, 17 Sukhai, 22 Ikiye, 30 Kulhopu, 34 Itovi. Polls at these booths will be held on March 7 from 7 am to 4 pm.
Daring the cold weather electorates thronged the polling booths to exercise their franchise hours before the polling began from 7 am and concluded at 4 pm this evening. The electorate of Nagaland this time was being dominated by young people with 53 per cent of the total voters being in the age group of 18-35 years. The polling booths of the state capital, Kohima bore a reflection of this fact as the huge queues could be seen dominated by young people in front of all polling booths, a large number of whom were perhaps voting for the first time. 17 constituencies of the state have more female voters than male voters, according to the CEO.
Though the Election Commission for the first time had taken special measures like involvement of grass-root level statutory bodies and churches to check proxy voting, several electorates lamented that they were unable to exercise their own franchise as somebody else had casted their votes by the time they reached the polling booth.
Notably, transportation to arrive at the polling stations became a problem for a large number of voters in the capital and elsewhere, as most of the vehicles were requisitioned by the administration for election work. All business establishments, educational institutes and offices remained closed for the smooth conduct of polls while vehicular traffic preferred remaining off roads to avoid any untoward incident.
Mention may be made that in 2003 elections for the 10th Legislative Assembly, six parties had fielded their candidates while this time the polls recorded the highest (10) number of political parties fielding highest number (185) candidates. Independent candidates also recorded the highest with 33 candidates.
Meanwhile, the CEO Nagaland while informing that the re-polls would be held on March 7 while counting would take place on March 8 said that the counting for all the 60 A/Cs would take place simultaneously in 60 different halls spread over all the districts.
IFP
Kohima, Mar 5: Polling for the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly concluded in a relatively peaceful atmosphere with a record of 83.54 per cent electorates exercising their franchise to elect 60 representatives in 1766 polling stations spread over 12 electoral districts to decide the fate of 218 candidates for the 60 member Assembly in the state.
Briefing mediapersons at the commissioner’s office, Kohima this evening, chief electoral officer, Nagaland, CJ Ponraj, IAS said percentage of votes cast was about 83.5% excluding Zunheboto, as reports from the district were yet to arrive the headquarters.
He said the overall polling during the day went off peacefully without any major incidents being reported from any quarter except for some minor cases of harassment and threatening between rival political party supporters.
Nevertheless, sources from the districts have revealed that in Dimapur-I Assembly constituency, seven vehicles belonging to different political parties were damaged while nine electronic voting machines (EVMs) were destroyed throughout the state during the day, besides two blasts and arrest of two individuals at Wokha.
Peren recorded the highest turn out with 95 per cent while Kohima was the lowest with 77 per cent, he said, adding that the inclement weather throughout the state did not deter the voters from responding to their liabilities.
Maintaining that there had been much decrease in poll related violence compared to the polling day violence of previous elections, he said polling was quite peaceful without any physical injuries to any individual. He however revealed that two reports of bomb blasts, one each at Dimapur-III A/C and Phek Town A/C were received while two persons were arrested under 37-Tyui A/C, Wokha for trying to disturb the conduct of polls. Nine EVMs were damaged at 37 Tyui A/C – 5, 16 Pfutsero A/C – 1 and Tuensang Sadar-I A/C – 3. Besides, the commission received eight complaint letters demanding re-polling in eight polling stations. BJP filed two, NPF – two, RJD – two and one each from Congress and JD(U).
Interestingly, polling in 14 stations in four Assembly constituencies under Zunheboto district could not be held today as the returning officer and deputy commissioner, Zunheboto were unable to send polling personnel to the booths due to shortage of transportation. These were under 31 Akuluto polling booth numbers 7 Shitsumi village; under 33 Suruhuto A/C polling station numbers 2 Akhakhu village, 3 Yehemi, 20 Achikuchu ‘A’, 23 Koiboto; under 34 Aghunato A/C polling stations number 3 Yizutomi, 4 Ngozubami, 18 Viyilho, under 36 Sathakha A/C – polling booth no. 7 Satakha ‘A’, 17 Sukhai, 22 Ikiye, 30 Kulhopu, 34 Itovi. Polls at these booths will be held on March 7 from 7 am to 4 pm.
Daring the cold weather electorates thronged the polling booths to exercise their franchise hours before the polling began from 7 am and concluded at 4 pm this evening. The electorate of Nagaland this time was being dominated by young people with 53 per cent of the total voters being in the age group of 18-35 years. The polling booths of the state capital, Kohima bore a reflection of this fact as the huge queues could be seen dominated by young people in front of all polling booths, a large number of whom were perhaps voting for the first time. 17 constituencies of the state have more female voters than male voters, according to the CEO.
Though the Election Commission for the first time had taken special measures like involvement of grass-root level statutory bodies and churches to check proxy voting, several electorates lamented that they were unable to exercise their own franchise as somebody else had casted their votes by the time they reached the polling booth.
Notably, transportation to arrive at the polling stations became a problem for a large number of voters in the capital and elsewhere, as most of the vehicles were requisitioned by the administration for election work. All business establishments, educational institutes and offices remained closed for the smooth conduct of polls while vehicular traffic preferred remaining off roads to avoid any untoward incident.
Mention may be made that in 2003 elections for the 10th Legislative Assembly, six parties had fielded their candidates while this time the polls recorded the highest (10) number of political parties fielding highest number (185) candidates. Independent candidates also recorded the highest with 33 candidates.
Meanwhile, the CEO Nagaland while informing that the re-polls would be held on March 7 while counting would take place on March 8 said that the counting for all the 60 A/Cs would take place simultaneously in 60 different halls spread over all the districts.
IFP
No comments:
Post a Comment