Nagaland bye-election results to be declared on Tuesday; arrangement in place for vote counting

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 9 (EMN): Results of the bye-election to two assembly constituencies in Nagaland will be declared on Tuesday as the counting of votes for 14-Southern Angami A/C and 60-Pungro-Kiphire A/C starts at 8 am. 

The bye-election to the two assembly constituencies was held on November 3 and a re-poll at two polling stations in Kiphire—PS 8-Kipongya Ward-A Kiphire Town and PS 11-Singrep at Kiphire—was conducted on November 7.

The chief electoral officer (CEO) Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, had earlier said that the tally of votes will be declared on the same day.

He said that all arrangements have been made at both the constituencies for counting of votes. There will be one counting hall in Kohima while two halls have been arranged for Kiphire. The counting in Kiphire will be done simultaneously in the two counting halls, he added. 

The counting of votes for 14-Southerm Angami-1 A/C will be done by the SDO (Civil) Jakhama and returning officer at Kohima, and for the 60-Pungro-Kiphire A/C by the additional deputy commissioner of Kiphire and Returning Officer at Kiphire, informed CEO in a press release on Monday.

There will be one counting centre each in Kohima and Kiphire, both in their respective deputy commissioner’s complex. Necessary arrangements for counting, in line with the guidelines, and detailed training to all counting personnel have been given, he added.

The path for transportation of EVMS from the strong rooms to counting halls have been delineated and barricaded and it would be under CCTV coverage.

The superintendents of police of both the districts have made detailed security arrangement and there will be three-tier security cordon at the counting centres. While the first and second tiers will be manned by DEF/NAP/IR, the third and last tier close to the counting hall will be manned by the personnel from CAPF, he informed.

All the necessary protocols for preventing the spread of Covid-19 will be followed at the counting centres. Every person entering the counting centre will be thermally screened and hand sanitisers will be provided at the entrances.

Further, the counting centres will be disinfected before, during, and after the counting of votes. The carrying cases of CUs/VVPATS will also be sanitised before placing over the counting tables.

The returning officers of both the assembly constituencies will regularly upload the round-wise data and counting trends which will be available on the Election Commission of India portal and the same will also be disseminated to the media, he added. 

Altogether, eight candidates are in race for the two assembly constituency seats of Nagaland. The two seats were vacated following the deaths of legislators Vikho-o Yhoshü and T Torechu. 

The three candidates for 14-Southern Angami A/C are Medo Yhokha of NDPP, NPF’s Kikovi Kirha and Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo.

Candidates for 60-Pungro-Kiphire A/C are BJP’s Lirimong Sangtam, Khaseo Anar for Congress and three Independent candidates —T Yangseo Sangtam, K Shellumthong, and Kiusumew Yimchunger.