Nagaland bye-election registers 88% voting; re-poll at Singrep

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Nov. 3 (EMN): The bye-election to two assembly constituencies — 14-Southern Angami-I and 60-Pungro-Kiphire in Nagaland — came to a close on Tuesday with 88.10% voter turnout.

However, there will be re-poll at Singrep polling station-11 in Kiphire .

In 14-Southern Angami-I, the polling percentage was 84.41%, while in 60-Pungro-Kiphire, it was 89.80%.

Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday evening, the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO), Abhijit Sinha, said that the polling process had been peaceful except for some incidents at Sinrep polling station-11 and Jakhama town-1 polling station-12.

The polling began at 6 am and went till 4 pm at most of the polling stations. Mock polls were conducted an hour ahead of the actual polling in all the stations.

Polling parties have started moving back for depositing their EVMs and other polling documents and material at the dispersal centres in both assembly constituencies, he said.

The returning officer has fixed the time for scrutiny of polling documents and material on Wednesday at 11 am in both the districts. The scrutiny will be done in the presence of the observers and candidates and elections agents. ‘In case of any complaints, they can always bring forth during the scrutiny. Whatever complaints are there, it will be looked into during scrutiny time,’ he added. 

There was webcasting of all the polling stations in Kohima and about 24 webcastings were done in Kiphire. In the absence of internet connectivity, an offline videography was used. 

As safety measures, the voters were screened, provided with masks, gloves, and hand sanitisers. Some Covid-19 patients, who were supposed to come out for voting, decided not to. However, five voters from high risk category (under quarantine, primary contacts) came forward and voted in Sourthern Angami-I A/C, the CEO said. 

Total value of the seizures made was INR 14,21,000. Six VVPATs were replaced during mock poll. During actual poll, eight VVPATs and others were also replaced.

Sharing the experience of election being held under Covid-19 pandemic, Sinha said that a bit more preparations was required than usual. Additional training was required for polling officials. The polling started early at 6 am but the mock poll was started even earlier. Polling officials started making arrangements from 4.30 am onwards. He added that additional personnel were also required for thermal screening purpose. 

Re-poll at Singrep

A fresh poll has been decided for the Singrep polling station-11 under 60-Pungro-Kiphire A/C after an untoward incident occurred when a “mob” reportedly started to gather outside the polling station and “disturbed” the polling process.

The date for re-poll is yet to be fixed. The report of the incident will go to the Election Commission of India and then a date will be fixed for fresh poll. The date will be intimated later. The office of CEO has already received the report in this regard from the returning officer there, Sinha said. 

The CEO added that the polling station had to be adjourned by the presiding officer on account of “disturbance of peace” at polling station.

While giving accounts of the incident that occurred at Singrep PS-11, the CEO said that ‘there were two groups of people who were trying to create commotion and had had some arguments’. The “mob” had gathered outside the polling station and started pelting stones which had led to the situation. The security personnel and polling officials had to stop people from coming inside the polling station, he said. 

As the situation did not improve, it was impossible for the polling party ‘to take the poll forward’. The presiding officer, sensing that free and fair poll will not be possible, decided to adjourn the poll. It was not the case of voters coming to vote but a law and order situation being created because of the mob gathering outside, Sinha added.