77.4% voter turnout at Riphyim Old re-poll

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 25 (EMN): Following the Election Commission of India’s directive, re-poll was conducted at polling station No. 31, Riphyim Old-III under 37- Tyui assembly constituency in Wokha district on April 25. The voter turnout was recorded at 77.4%.

Out of the total 602 voters, 466 cast their votes. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Abhijit Sinha, there were 239 female voters and 227 male. In the initial poll, total voters’ turnout was 509 with 239 male and 270 female. The percentage was 84.55%.

Throughout the day, he said, polling was “quite peaceful and very smooth.” Polling started at 7 am and finished around 4.30 pm.

“Polling parties have sealed everything and have left for district headquarter (Wokha) where EVMs and polling materials are kept in the strong room separately,” he said.

The scrutiny of the re-poll will be conducted at office of the Commissioner at 11 am on April 26 in Kohima, Sinha informed.

On the reason for re-poll, the CEO said: “It was because of the video clip circulated on social media from an unknown source.”

“There was a violation, not only of the model code of conduct but, of a particular section in Representation of Peoples Act of 1951,” the CEO said. One cannot display any party symbol on polling day—that too at a polling station, he added.

A case has already been filed at Wokha police station against the deputy chief minister and polling officials. Further investigation is going on, Sinha said.

Asked about the source of the video clip, the CEO said the authorities do not know. “It was definitely not from any videographer or webcasting from our source, because webcasting was not working that day,” he clarified.