No repoll in Nagaland; rise in poll percentage likely

Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, APRIL 10

THE scrutiny committee for Lok Sabha polls in the Nagaland has not recommended repoll in any of the polling stations in the state, even in Ladaigarh Polling Station No. 1, where polling could not be conducted as Assam police blocked the entry of polling officers into the village.The documents of 22 polling stations out of the 2059, which were brought to the Returning Officer’s (RO) office Kohima today from all over the state was scrutinized by the three member committee which include Nagaland Commissioner & RO, Temjen Toy and two general observers Dr. Manjit Singh and Ab. Latif Deva.
After thorough scrutiny, the committee felt that there is no need to recommend re-poll in any of the polling booths, said Temjen Toy while briefing a section of media-persons this evening at official complex.
He also clarified that even as polling could not be held at all in Ladaigarh Polling Station No. 1 under Tamlu A/C in Longleng district yesterday, the committee also did not recommend re-poll there as the ECI General Observer for Nagaland LS polls, Ab. Latif Deva also did not recommend for holding re-poll in the area.
Toy said that polling could not be held in Ladaigarh as polling officials were stopped entry into Ladaigarh village by armed Assam police since April 8. He also said that even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) had directed to hold polls in a make-shift booth for the 302 electorates of Ladaigarh, it was not possible.
On the other hand, he said that at taking the polling station to Yanglok village was also not possible as Phom People’s Council objected stating that the polling station should be set up within Ladaigarh village and beyond the village.
He said considering the gravity of the situation, which create serious law and order problem in the bordering area, the committee also did not recommend for re-poll. However, he maintained, it is upto the decision of the Election Commission to announce re-poll or not.
On the final over poll percentage, Toy acknowledged that there were immense calculation mistakes by the polling officials. Till 7am today, the poll percentage had shot up to 87%. Nevertheless, he said the calculations are still in progress and the final votes polled percentage could not be ascertained exactly.