Election observers hold meeting with candidates

DIMAPUR — To ensure free, fair and inducement-free election in the state, the commissioner and returning officer (RO) of 1-Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, Sushil Kumar Patel, along with a team of election observers held a meeting with contesting candidates and political parties in Kohima on Wednesday.

The meeting, which was held at the conference hall of the commissioner and RO, served as a platform for open discussion on various issues pertinent to the electoral process, stated a DIPR report.

It stated that general observers namely Avinash Champawat and P Ramesh along with police observer, Sukesh Kumar Jain, and expenditure observers, Vivek Chauhan and Satya Batra were present in the meeting.

Key topics addressed during the meeting included handling of postal ballots, vehicle permissions for election-related activities and the role of stakeholders in upholding democratic values.

During the meeting, the commissioner and returning officer provided insights into the procedures for handling different types of postal ballots and clarified protocols regarding vehicle permissions.

The importance of conducting elections in a free, fair and inducement-free election was reiterated during the meeting, while all stakeholders were asked to adhere strictly to the code of conduct and ethical guidelines to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Report stated that candidates and political party representatives voiced their concerns and sought clarifications on various issues, which was clarified accordingly.

The meeting concluded on a positive note with stakeholders reaffirming their collaboration to ensure a smooth and successful conduct of the upcoming elections in Nagaland.