Dimapur, April 12 (EMN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has thanked and congratulated the citizens of the state, including the various church organisations, civil society organisations and tribe hohos, for their cooperation and exercising their adult franchise and “upholding the sanctity of democracy” during the just concluded parliamentary elections to the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state and the by-election to the 26-Aonglenden assembly constituency.
“The maturity of the people displayed during the polls has led to the peaceful, free and fair conduct of the elections. The party also puts on record its appreciation to all the political parties that participated in the elections for ensuring that the democratic institutions of our country were honoured and upheld. It may be mentioned that the beauty of a democracy is to allow multiple political parties to come forward and participate in the election process with their own ideologies, manifestos and programs for the people.
“Political parties that contests in elections are opponents, but never enemies. Likewise, the NDPP appreciates our opponents for coming forward with their manifestos and candidates to contest the Lok Sabha election and the by-elections thus keeping the spirit of democracy alive and burning, in the state. The role of an opposition in a democracy is meant to strengthen the principles of democracy and provide for and improve good governance.
“The NDPP as a party have tried our best throughout the campaign period to maintain dignity and integrity in all our campaigning through the length and breadth of Nagaland. The party and its functionaries have desisted from making any personal attacks on our opponents and neither have we hit any individual or party below the belt. The NDPP hope that even in the future the citizens along with all political parties will participate in the electioneering process as witnessed in the just concluded elections in the state,” read a statement from the NDPP on Friday.
The party also thanked its alliance partners BJP, JD (U) and Independent candidate for having stood steadfast and committed in supporting the NDPP-PDA consensus candidates Tokheho Yepthomi and Sharingain Longkumer.
It expressed “deepest appreciation to the dedicated sacrifices made by our party rank and file during the entire election period and tirelessly working for our candidates.” The NDPP congratulated the Election Commission of India, the state’s election department, the administration, police, all law enforcement agencies, government and non-government agencies for peaceful and successful conduct of the elections.
In a separate statement, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) also thanked voters “who voted on their conscience.”
“Many have taken a courageous decision to defend faith, Identity, culture, language, history and way of life. Your vote will go a long way to correct the wrong doings in the nation and state and to provide future needs.
“Genuine voter turnout was low but polling percentage was as high as 78.67% by the end of polling. This only goes to speak that proxy voting was rampant. In violation of election ‘model code of conduct’, ‘one person one vote’ and the appeal of churches forum for clean election, many village councils and chieftains have captured proxy votes and voted in favour of NDPP+BJP candidate in the name of development obliging to gratification and promises offered by the ruling government,” it stated.
According to the NPCC, the greatest failure was on the part of the presiding officers and polling officers. “Most officers have not upheld the model code of conduct. They were dictated by village councils and chieftains and have allowed family head voting in many polling stations. In the name of family, proxy votes were also allowed.
“Voter slip + one identity card was required as per ECI’s notice. Most presiding officers or polling officers have not enforced. There are reports that even after clearly seeing ink mark on the finger indicating that the person has voted, the finger was inked again and proxy voting allowed,” the party claimed.
