DIMAPUR: The Langpangkong Students Conference (LKM) during its meeting held at Chunchuyimlang on November 11 has come out strongly against the open declaration or selection of village candidates by village council or villagers under Langpangkong range, Mokokchung district.
A press release by LKM stated that it had resolved that any village which has undertaken such action should revoke the same. It further affirmed the Chuchuyimlang resolution on clean election adopted on September 3, 2016.
All 33 villages and town units under Langpangkong range in Mokokchung district as well as Dobashis and Goanburra had taken the pledge for clean election in their respective villages and town units.
LKM also condemned and rejected the “declarations” and said that all intending candidates should be allowed to contest in the forthcoming election. The villages should not levy the threat of “ex-communication” against anyone going against the village’s decision, it said. LKM called for revocation of all such declarations and entrusted the different village and town units of the LKM as well as the LKM Clean Election Campaign Sub-Committee to ensure implementation of the resolution in their respective areas.
During the meeting, additional chief electoral officer, N. Moa Aier also said that the practice of declaring a particular candidate and forcing others to vote for that candidate was a violation of the Representation of the Peoples Act 1951 and the Conduct of Elections 1961, Rule 39, which was punishable either by fine or imprisonment or both. He said that CCTVs would be installed to capture and webcast the election process live in the forthcoming election. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) would also be implemented. CCTVs would be fitted in police check posts and monitored via GPS. He requested the gathering to learn about EVMs and VVPAT through the administration.
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