Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura election 2023 dates announced; Model Code of Conduct comes into force

The Election Commission on Wednesday fixed February 27 for elections to the Nagaland and Meghalaya legislative assemblies, while Tripura will go to the poll on February 16.

The counting of votes for all the three north-eastern states is scheduled for March 2.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar made the announcement at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, just days after visiting the three poll-bound states to review the poll preparedness.

The three state assemblies have strength of 60 members each with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently ruling in Tripura and a part of the ruling coalition in Nagaland with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and others (all-party govt.) and with the National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya.

The Election Commission of India is committed to conducting a free, fair, participative, accessible, inclusive and safe election to the legislative assemblies of the three states before the cessation of its term, said the press note.

The term of the Nagaland Assembly will end on March 12, while the tenure of the Meghalaya and Tripura assemblies will expire on March 15 and March 22 respectively.

Electorate details

As per the latest electoral rolls for Nagaland, there are 13,17,634 (around 13.17 lakh) electors, including 13,09,651 (around 13.09 lakh) general electors and 7,983 service voters, while the number of enrolments of young electors, who attained the age of 18 between Jan. 2, 2022 and Jan. 1, 2023, is 24,689.

The state also has 6,970 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) electors and 36,403 senior citizens (80+), the third gender is NIL.

The CEC pointed out that was more female voter turnout in the last state general election, registering 86% against 81% males, and the number of female voters is also more that than their male counterparts in the state.

It was informed that voting will be conducted in 2,315 polling stations across the state, out of which 10 will be managed by PwDs and 196 by women, with maximum 1500 electors in each polling station. The number of polling stations in 2018 poll was 2194.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland, V. Shashank Shekhar, had earlier told this newspaper that the ECI had approved 305 companies of Central Police Armed Forces (CAPF) for the upcoming state Assembly election against 281 companies in 2018 poll, and deployment of security personnel had already begun.

It may be mentioned that that the current strength of NLA is 59, consisting 41 NDPP legislators, BJP - 12, NPF - 4 and Independents – 2, while the 23-Impur A/C is vacant following the demise of its MLA Dr. Imtiwapang Aier of NDPP on January 7 this year.

The NDPP and BJP, which were in a pre-poll alliance in the previous election, have said that they will continue the pact in the upcoming state assembly election too.

Model Code of Conduct comes into force

The ECI has said that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force in Nagaland and two other poll-bound states with the announcement of poll schedule.

“All the provisions of the Model Code will apply to the whole of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura with regard to all candidates, political parties and the government of the said State,” read the press note from ECI, adding that any violation of the MCC guidelines would be strictly dealt with.

The CEO of Nagaland has also stated that the MCC has come into immediate effect in the whole state with regard to all candidates, political parties, state government and union government in view of the declaration of election schedule.

In separate notifications, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer of Kohima, and Court of District Magistrate Wokha, have issued similar orders on the MCC coming into force in their respective districts, and that it will be effective till the completion of the election process.