Dimapur, Feb. 1 (EMN): The customary flurry of administrative management and the urgent pace of elaborate preparation associated with elections has begun for Nagaland too. The state goes to the assembly polls on Feb. 27. The range of activity for election officers and its workforce appears to drive from the mundane all the way to the sensitive. Here is a glimpse of the preparations underway for the state’s polls.
Every policeman now a poll official of the ECI
The government has designated all the officers and personnel of the Nagaland state police—ranking from the director general of police to the constable—as election related officials for the state assembly elections and till its completion.
The government issued on Thur. a notification dated Jan. 31 designating all the officers and personnel of the state’s police, including the Home Guard, as election-related officials for the purpose of section-28a of the Representation of People Act of 1951. The assignment comes into effect from the date of the notification for the elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and till the completion of it.
The police personnel who will now involve in any way in election-related arrangement and perform duties in connection with conducting the general elections to Nagaland Legislative Assembly are now by law officers of the Election Commission of India.
The officers and personnel are deemed to be on deputation to the commission, and are subject to its control, superintendence, and discipline code—they are now answerable to the Election Commission for any acts of commission or omission on their part while performing any election-related duties, a DIPR update on Thur. informed.
Restrictions: Use of govt. guest houses for political activity
With the announcement of the schedule for elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly by the Election Commission, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force. Instructions and guidelines of the Election Commission relating to the use of rest houses, ‘Dak bungalows’ and other government accommodation have been issued for strict enforcement and compliance by all in concern.
IPR updates on Thur. states that the commission has taken note of the use of various state guest houses, ‘bhawan’ and ‘sadan’ at Delhi for election related activities by some political parties. The activities include holding of party meetings, press conferences, and consultations, the updates stated.
After taking all factors into account, the commission has decided that no part of such government premises are to be used for any political activity. The resident commissioners and liaison officers of all the states and union territories at Delhi are instructed to ensure that no violation in said regard is committed by those in concern.
There are, however, no restrictions for the use of ‘Bhawan’ for genuine requirements such as accommodation of officers and other visitors including political functionaries but purely for purposes related to official tours to Delhi, the updates stated.
Further, the resident commissioner or liaison commissioners are advised that allocation of rooms should be made in ‘fair and equitable manner’ and that ‘it would be improper to provide entire floors and large blocks for exclusive use and for extended periods by political functionaries and parties,’ the updates from the IPR added.
Polling personnel in Dimapur assigned with election duty for the forthcoming Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) election are directed to report for training.
The first phase of training for them is scheduled to be conducted on Feb. 2 and the 3rd at Government College of Dimapur, the district’s electoral administration informed in a notice that was issued on Thur.
The training is scheduled to start from 1:00 pm for presiding officers and first polling officers. For second and third polling officers the time is scheduled from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
No one is exempted except those who have been recommended by the medical board set up by election authorities of Dimapur, the notice stated.
Polling personnel and “nodal” officers are directed to attend the training. ‘Strict action’ will be initiated against the absentees in accordance with the Representation of the Peoples’ Act of 1950 and the Conduct of Election Rules of 1961, the authorities stated.
Drivers of taxis and private buses, and government drivers in Kohima district whose vehicles have been requisitioned for election duty have been informed to collect Form-12 for postal ballots. The electoral establishment of Kohima district issued notifications on Thur. stating the directive. The information was issued by the officer in charge of Transportation for election duty of Kohima Sadar.
Drivers of taxis, “bolero pick up” and “Tata mobile”; private bus and government drivers in Kohima district whose vehicles have been requisitioned for election duty, or are already deployed on election duty by the electoral establishment, and are “desirous of availing” postal ballot have been informed to collect Form-12 for the postal ballot from the Transport cell of the office of the deputy commissioner of Kohima. They are to submit it to the Postal Ballot cell / Revenue branch, 2nd floor, of the DC’s office in Kohima by Feb. 7 during office hours.
The reporting date for owners of vehicles assigned election duty has been postponed ‘in view of the proposed bandh called from 1st February.’ On Thur. the district electoral officer of Zunheboto Tridibesh Roy informed all owners and drivers of vehicles in Zunheboto district which were requisitioned for the general elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly that the reporting date set for the requisitioned vehicles was being postponed. They have been asked to report to the local ground of Zunheboto, or to the administrative officer of area in concern from where they were requisitioned, on the next day the “bandh” is lifted, IPR updates stated on Thur.
On Jan. 31 the area’s administrative authorities conducted a meeting in Noklak. The meeting was presided over by the returning officer of Noklak Thsuvisie Phoji, IPR updates informed on Thur. Polling officials, local organisational units and ward presidents, and church leaders attended the meeting, it was informed. The officer briefed the gathering about the concept of ‘clean’ elections and the notification of the Election Commission about the Code of Conduct for Election. He informed the gathering that the nominations to the 56th and 57th assembly constituency would be done at Noklak. Also, he pointed out that CCTV cameras were been installed in the polling stations for the first time. The officer has asked the political parties to cooperate with the authorities during the election.
The establishment of the district electoral officer (DEO) of Pughoboto has informed polling personnel assigned election duty for Pughoboto to report for examination. The medical board examination for applicants seeking exemption on medical grounds is scheduled to be conducted on Feb. 5 at 10 am in the office of the DEO. Applicants should come along with all their medical records, IPR updates stated on Thur. The establishment has also directed all polling personnel to attend the training on Feb. 6 at 10 am. They are bring along two passport-size photographs for use in their identity cards.
Polling expenditure observer reaches Pughoboto
The expenditure observer for the 13th Pughoboto assembly constituency for the election to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly is in the area. Senior Deputy Integrated Financial Advisor, northern command Dr. Upinderbir Singh reached Pughoboto headquarters on Jan. 31. The observer is in the town as part of the ongoing poll activities for Nagaland’s general elections which is scheduled to held on Feb. 27, IPR updates informed on Thur.
With elections ready to be held to elect a member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for 6th Tening and 7th Peren assembly constituencies, the election establishment has issued a notice listing out a number of terms to fulfil when presenting nomination papers.
Nomination papers may be delivered by a candidate or by any proposer to Sakuchingmak Chang, assistant returning officer; Kuzonyi Wideo, subdivision officer (civil), 7th Peren assembly constituency; or to returning officer office, old DC’s building in Peren town between, 11:00 am and 3:00 pm on any day other than public holidays and not later than 07-02-2018, Wednesday, the IPR stated on Thur.
The returning officer for 6th Tening assembly constituency is Warren Holohon Yepthomi and for the 7th Peren assembly constituency, Chubawati Chang. The nomination papers will be taken for scrutiny in the office of the returning officer respective to 6th Tening assembly constituency and the 7th Peren assembly constituency, old DC’s building in Peren town on Feb. 8, Thursday, at 11:00 am.
A notice of withdrawal of candidature may be delivered either by the candidate or by any of his proposers or by his election agent authorised in writing by the candidate to deliver it to either of the officers specified at his office before 3:00 pm on the Feb. 12, Monday. In the event of a contest, polling will be taken on Feb. 27 Tuesday between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, the IPR stated.
The expenditure observer for Bhandari’s 39th and 40th assembly constituencies Jasmeet Singh Dhandra, IRS (C&CE) Punjab held a meeting in the office of the additional deputy commissioner of the border town in Wokha district on Feb. 1, updates from the IPR stated on Thur. The observer appraised the monitoring committees about their duties, among other topics of discussion related to the election. He urged the members to be thorough with their assigned duties, the IPR stated.
