Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 15
The by-election to Northern Angami-II Assembly Constituency under Chiephobozou Sub-division in Kohima district today recorded 87.53% voter turn-out. The poll was also peaceful.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, Sentiyanger Imchen told media-persons this evening the voter turn-out percentage could be even higher. Details are awaited, according to the CEO.
Out of 18,701 voters, excluding ballot papers, 87.53% of electorate turn-out during the by-poll which was held without any untoward incident, he claimed. Out of the total number of voters, female voters had outnumbered the male voters with 9443, the CEO added.
There has been no official complaint about any violence and polling passed off peacefully in all the 39 polling stations spread over 30 villages of the constituency, the CEO also said.
The officer also revealed scrutiny of documents of presiding officers and sector magistrates would be done tomorrow and re-poll would be recommended if anomalies are detected during the scrutiny. So far the CEO did not receive any formal complaint.
On being highlighted about reports of clashes between the party-workers of the two candidates in some of the polling stations in Rusoma, Zhadima, Gariphema and Touphe Bawe, the CEO said no formal complaints have been received except some last minute incident at Rusoma, which he said would be looked into once the final report is received from the sector magistrate.
It may be mentioned that the by-election was a straight contest between first time candidates — NPF’s Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu and BJP’s Visasolie Lhoungu.
Meanwhile, NPF candidate Neiphrezo was the first person to cast vote at Chiechama Bawe GPS Polling Station No. 11 followed by his wife Vimenuo Keditsu.
BJP candidate Visasolie Lhoungu along with his family also cast their votes at Dihoma village, Polling Station No. 20.
Nagaland Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio cast his vote at Tuophema Basa.
The by-poll was necessitated following Neiphiu Rio’s win in the last Lok Sabha election.
Counting of votes will be held on October 20.
FFE says one man one vote successful
The Forum for Fair Election (FFE) has claimed that the by-election to NA-II A/C was successful as it has witnessed its call for one man one vote.
Core Committee Member of FFE Dr. Kevizakie Rio said that the call for one man one vote has been successful in all the polling stations in this by-election. He also said that there was no trouble in any of the polling stations.
NPF laments official lunch break during polling
NPF Election Expenditure Agent Vibeiletuo lamented that ECI deputed polling officials taking break during polling hour, which led to slow progress of voting at Gariphema Bawe Polling Station No. 14. He alleged that even as there was a long queue of enthusiastic voters waiting for their turn to exercise the franchise, the polling officials not only took official lunch break for almost an hour but also stopped voting for almost ten times. He said there was no problem between the two contesting parties but it was the polling officials creating problem.
The matter was highlighted to the CEO Nagaland during the press briefing in the evening. He said that the polling officials are not supposed to take lunch break while there are people waiting to cast their vote.
