Kohima: Preparations to conduct the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls have begun following the Supreme Court’s direction to complete the municipal elections by April. However, with the final publication of the electoral roll scheduled on April 12, there is uncertainty if Nagaland will have sufficient time to conduct the same within the stipulated time.
Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Monday, newly appointed state election commissioner, T John Longkumer, informed that to conduct the general elections to constitute the Municipal and Town Councils in Nagaland, there is a need to revise and update the electoral roll for all 39 municipal/town councils.
In this regard, a special summary revision of the electoral for all municipal and town councils will begin on March 8 with the draft publication of electoral roll. The period for lodging claims and objections will be from March 11-20 and period for disposal of claims and objectives from March 21-27.
Likewise, the period for filing appeal to the respective appellate authorities from March 28-April 3, disposal of claims and objections by the appellate authority from April 4-6, preparation for amendments after the decision of the appellate authority from April 8-10 which will be followed by the final publication of electoral roll on April 12.
According to Longkumer, preparations are in motion to complete the electoral process by April as per the apex court’s order. He expressed optimism that with the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023 in place, the civic polls will be conducted as per the rules.
As the Act was enacted following wide public consultations between the state government and civil society organisations, ensuring that all necessary steps were taken, he said that the subsequent logical step is the conduct of the election with reservation of seats for women.
With the Lok Sabha elections looming, he said that a detailed study is yet to be made if the ULB polls can simultaneously be conducted with the parliamentary polls.
He said that the responsibility of the commission is to oversee the schedule of the electoral process. The former Director General of Police (DGP) informed that recommendations will be presented to the state government to ensure smooth conduct of the civic polls.
While it is the responsibility of the government to conduct the election, he said that the commission is providing technical assistance by training officers to conduct the elections.
In December last year, the Supreme Court, considered an affidavit filed by the state government which stated that the civic body elections with 33% reservation for women would be completed by April this year.
The apex court order stated that notice of contempt can be discharged during the next hearing on May 3 as elections are expected to be over by then.
When queried about the consequences of Nagaland not meeting the designated timeframe, Longkumer replied by stating that he is in communication with the Attorney General of Nagaland, proposing the submission of a report regarding the electoral roll’s progress to request an extension from the court.
On November 9 last year, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly enacted the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023, inclusive of 33% women reservation. Following this move, the Supreme Court had directed the state government to complete the electoral process for the civic polls by April this year.
In 2017, Nagaland witnessed violent protests against the ULB elections, which provided 33% reservation for women. The protest claimed two lives, and several government properties were vandalised. Several organisations opposed the ULB elections on grounds that it infringed the special provisions granted to Nagaland under Article 371(A) of the Constitution.
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In 2001, the Nagaland Municipal and Town Council Act 2001 was passed in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, without the inclusion of 33% women reservation, a mandatory provision in article 243-T Part IX-A. This was later amended in 2006. Before 2001, the Nagaland state followed the Assam Municipal Act for the town committees of the state.
The first election under the Municipal and Town Council Act 2001 was conducted in 2004 across the state without 33% women reservation, except in Mokokchung town, on grounds that unless the provision for taxation of land and building were omitted/deleted from the Act, the town would not allow the municipal election.
Also Read | Will complete urban body polls by April ’24: Nagaland govt tells SC