At 56%, Nagaland records significantly lower turnout in Lok Sabha poll

KOHIMA — Polling for Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha seat concluded ‘peacefully’, with a tentative voter turnout of 56 per cent, significantly lower than the 87.82 per cent recorded in the previous general election.

This low turnout was attributed to the abstention of at least 4 lakh voters from 20 assembly constituencies in six eastern districts, as the state went to poll in the first phase of elections on Friday with 101 other Parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and union territories and 92 Assembly Constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Addressing a press conference after the poll in Kohima, Chief Election Officer Vyasan R, said voting came to a close at 4 pm. The estimated polling percentage for the entire state is 56 per cent. However, the final percentage will be out on Saturday after the votes of those who were in queue at the time of closing are taken into account, he said.

A detailed breakdown of polling percentages, including polling station and Assembly Constituency-wise data, will be available on Saturday after compilation by Returning Officers. However, given the overall lower percentage and Nagaland’s historical trend of high voter turnout, “I don’t think much polling happened in Eastern Nagaland,” the CEO said.

Polling had been conducted peacefully as part of the first phase of the general elections to the Lok Sabha in 2342 polling stations, he added.

78 cases of MCC violation

According to the state election authority, there were 78 cases of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation across the state. The violation was in relation to public property. Eight were related to defacement of public property, cases were not lodge. In terms of private property, total of 11 cases were recorded, he informed.

During the course of MCC implementation, starting March 16, all the enforcement agencies combined have been able to seize goods (illegal cash, drugs, liquor) worth INR 490.56 lakh.

Around 14400 polling personnel, excluding security personnel, managed polling stations. The state did not take any vehicles from outside the state in this election, as at least 8800 vehicles were requisitioned which was self-sufficient, the CEO said.

Three criminal cases in Wokha

With regard to booth capturing, he said no formal complaints were received but there were a few reports in Phek, Kohima and Mokokchung districts. The reports were forwarded to the respective deputy commissioners and district election officers. Respective sector magistrates conducted the necessary verification and reported back that ‘nothing’ was found.

Briefing on the security aspects of the election, state police nodal officer for the election and IGP (Range) Limasunep Jamir said that the polling process throughout the state has been peaceful, and there were no major reports of law and order or violence in the state.

However, it has taken cognisance of three criminal cases of impersonation in Wokha after complaints were made by the sector magistrate. The police in Wokha have arrested three persons in this connection.

The total of 22, 954 police/security personnel were deployed for this entire exercise out of which 13,850 personnel were stationed in the six districts of eastern Nagaland. The total includes 48 companies of CAPFs, 46 companies of IRB and NAP, 600 home guards, 5761 personnel of district executive police/force, and 9583 village guards.

The pre-poll election process was peaceful, the polling has also been peaceful and we do not anticipate any possible violence as of now, he added.

Re-poll unlikely

Returning Officer and Commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel said the scrutiny of relevant papers will be conducted on Saturday, starting from 11 am. After that, the final decision of the state will be sent to the Election Commission through CEO office.

As of now, we have not received anything which indicates the need for a re-poll, he said.

He also said the EVMs will be stored at the district level but the postal ballot will be coming to the RO office for the counting and collection.

On March 30, the Election Commission electronically transmitted ballots to 7,847 service voters. While the process of receiving these completed ballots is ongoing, 351 have been returned so far. The deadline for receiving service voter ballots is just before the counting date, he said.

Till now, a total of 295 postal ballots belonging to absentees voters (85+, PwDs and voters from the essential services have been received till now.