Election dept prepared for smooth conduct of LS polls

Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, APRIL 1

NAGALAND Election Department is prepared for the conduct of the biggest festival of democracy in the state. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, Sentiyanger Imchen talking to a section of media persons in his official chamber here this afternoon, said the department is well prepared for the conduct of Lok Sabha elections on April 9.With the distribution of plastic Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC), successful conduct of Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign and also Clean Election campaign by churches, he is hopeful that ensuing Lok Sabha polls in the state would be free and fair.
Altogether 33 companies of additional forces of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have already reached the state and have been put on election duty. The forces include 10 coys of Tripura State Rifles, seven coys of Mizoram Armed Police; eight each coys of BSF and CRPF.
It is learnt that the Police Headquarters Kohima had sought for 79 coys of Para Military forces for the election purposes, but only 43 were sanctioned and now it has further been reduced to 33 coys only.
Sources also revealed besides the CAPF, the available battalions of Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) would also be utilized for poll duty.
The sources also maintained that due to shortage in sanctioning of central forces for the poll duties, the service of about 500 Home Guard personnel and 3000 Village Guards would also be utilized. He said the shortage was added as 10 coys of NAP (IR) Battalion have been deployed in Assam for the poll duties.
He said that two each general observers and expenditure observers, and one police observer are also in the state.
He maintained that first level checking of the 3127 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been successfully conducted and are safely kept in the strong rooms of the district headquarters.
He also said that SVEEP campaigns are being conducted in every part of the state while distribution of plastic EPIC, which is to be used in Assam and Nagaland only for the first time, is also in progress.
Nagaland has a total of 11,74,663 electors’ spread over 2059 polling stations in 12 electoral districts, including Pughoboto electoral district of the state.
Out of the 2059 polling stations, Lichuyan Polling station No. 57 under 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency has the least number of voters with 32 electorates while Ganesh Nagar Polling station No. 28 under Dimapur-III A/C has the higher number of voters with 2171 electorates.
He also said that categorization of the polling stations is in progress.
Three candidates are on fray for the lone Lok Sabha seat. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is contesting from Naga People’s Front, former Minister KV Pusa is official Congress candidate while Akhei Achumi is contesting from Socialist Party (India) ticket.