POLLING ON MAY 10 IN 33/2 – AKHAKHU & 33/25 – NALTOQA P/S
Returning Officer (RO) for the lone Nagaland parliamentary constituency Temjen Toy has issued notice of re-poll at two polling stations– 33/2 – Akhakhu and 33/25 – Naltoqa under 33 Suruhuto (ST) A/C, Zunheboto district.
Election Commission of India (ECI) had declared that under sub-section (2) of section 58 of the Representation of People Act 1951, the polling conducted on April 9 at these two polling stations against the parliamentary/assembly constituency to be void.
The fresh poll for these two polling stations would be held on May 10, (Saturday) between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
It may be mentioned that, Election Commission of India (ECI) Wednesday announced re-poll at 33/2 Akhakhu and 33/25 Naltoqa under 33 Suruhuto assembly constituency of Zunheboto district and 49/1 Ladiagarh under 49 Tamlu assembly constituency of Longleng district on May 10.
On the adjourned poll for polling station No.1 Ladigarh, the ECI stated that adjourned poll for the said polling station be taken at some alternative place in nearby location that was not dispute.
ECI has also made it clear that this would be ad hoc arrangement without prejudice to the respective claims of the two state governments, with regard to the disputed areas, which was presently sub-judice.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) had submitted anomalies in the recently concluded 16th Parliamentary Election in the state with documentary evidences including video-graphy proof to ECI.
DCC Tuensang rebuts
District Congress Committee ( DCC) Tuensang said it was compelled to issue a counter rejoinder after observing the way the election authority was handling its report of poll malpractices during the Lok Sabha election.
In a statement, DCC Tuensang general secretaries Pakhiu Khiam and Berimong Yim said there were number of issues to be understood keeping the best interest of the people in upholding democratic values.
The district committee also refuted that it had never alleged “violence” during the poll but systematic methods of poll malpractices. Therefore, whether the election was held peacefully or not did not arise.
DCC Tuensang also said that the various rejoinders issued by NPF and village councils under Tuensang district should convince the election authority to act as they have “knowingly or not” admitted to malpractices during the election.
Under the influence of the ruling party, village councils took overall authority in their jurisdiction in total disregard to the authority of ECI, alleged DCC Tuensang.
DCC Tuensang said it was confused as to which authority was actually conducting election in Nagaland and where the authority of ECI was.
DCC Tuensang also said that with the introduction of EPIC for the first time in Nagaland, proxy voting was at its worst. This has been proved by the unbelievable voting percentage, said DCC Tuensang.
If effective enquiry and investigation were to be conducted by the election authority, it would find that there was no ink mark on the fingers of the public in many places, alleged the district committee.
If things were to go this way, then conducting training for polling officials and party workers by the election authority had no meaning, rued DCC Tuensang.
The committee said the election observers and magistrates deputed by ECI could not be under “see no evil” mode and expressed the belief that all Christians in Nagaland should think of the prevailing culture of booth capturing and making false promises leading to taking away the right to vote and fooling the poor villagers during election.
The committee added that as a responsible political party, the Congress wanted every citizen to cast their own vote free and fair.
NPCC reiterates demand for re-poll in 1344 stations
While lauding the Election Commission of India (ECI) for taking prompt action in probing electoral malpractices in the recently held Lok Sabha poll for the lone seat in Nagaland, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reiterated that re-polling should be held in all the 1344 polling stations where polling percentage had exceeded 90% and above so as to ensure free and fair election process from here on.
In a statement, NPCC general secretary (Admn) Medokul Sophie also demanded that re-polling at 49 Ladigarh under Tamlu A/C should be held at Ladigarh GPS itself and should not be shifted to alternative location for which the concerned Election Authority should take all precautionary measures to ensure smooth polling process without further derailment.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee also reaffirmed its position to fight against the communal and exclusive politics of BJP, alien to the Naga culture as clearly figured in its manifesto – abrogation of Article 370; uniform civil code; construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and anti-cow slaughter law.
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