Kohima: Nagaland is set to conduct the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) election on Wednesday, spanning across 10 districts, with the exclusion of six districts located in the eastern part of the state.
This electoral exercise will mark a significant event in Nagaland’s political landscape as the civic polls is set to be held for the first time in 20 years.
The election comes against the backdrop of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO)’s stance of abstaining from state or parliamentary polls over its demand for a separate territory. This decision follows their abstention from the recent Lok Sabha polls.
With 64 candidates already declared uncontested, the remaining 523 candidates are in fray from 21 town councils and three municipalities.
Out of the total contesting candidates, 325 are male and 198 are female. Of the 64 elected unopposed, 24 are women.
Meanwhile, the SEC has notified restrictions regarding the entry of into the polling stations. It was notifed that the Presiding Officer should admit electors; polling officials; public servants on duty in connection with the election, including the election observer, Deputy Commissioner, Sector Magistrate/Officer or other Government Officials on election duty; persons authorised by the Commission with authority letter or Entry Pass for the purpose; each candidate, his/her Election Agent and Polling Agent at a time; a child in arms accompanying an elector; a person accompanying a blind or infirm Elector who cannot move without help; GB.
In case the assistance of a woman becomes necessary to assist women Electors or to help in conducting search on any woman Elector, the Presiding Officer may entrust a female Polling Official, if on duty, or another woman with her consent from amongst the women Electors present then and there for performing the role.
To help in identification of Electors or to assist the Presiding Officer, if situation demands, during the Poll, the Presiding Officer may take the assistance of the concerned Ward / Colony
It reminded that “Public Servants on Duty” does not include Ministers, MP, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Centre/States, including Advisors/MLAs of States. They are not allowed to be appointed as Election Agents / Polling Agents as they have to be escorted by their security guards who cannot be allowed entry into the Polling Station.
The “Public Servants on Duty” also does not include Police Officers. Such Officers whether in uniform or in plain clothes should not, as a general rule, be allowed into a Polling Station unless the Presiding Officer decides to call them inside in unavoidable circumstances for the maintenance of law and order or some similar purpose.
The Returning Officers have been asked to issue Identity Card to the Contesting Candidates bearing their photographs. In case situation demands, the Presiding Officer may ask for its production. Similarly, the Polling Agents of the Candidate can be asked to produce their Identity Card, that is, the attested copy of their appointment letter. The attestation is to be made by the Returning Officer.
No security personnel accompanying any Candidate, or any Agent or Elector, should be permitted to enter the Polling Station.
As per the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2023, there should be separate queue each for men and women Voters, to be admitted alternately in separate batches. The Presiding Officer should regulate the admission of Voters inside the Polling Station in such a manner that there is no crowding by Voters inside the Polling Station.
For Voters such as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Voters, senior Voters (75 years & above), blind and infirm Voters, women voters with babies in arms, their admission should be given precedence over other Voters in the queue. If case of unavoidable necessity, the Presiding Officer may take the assistance of the woman assistant as provided under Rule 46 (2) and specified in 1(h) above, including the MTS Polling Official, to help PwD Voters in wheel chair, blind and infirm Voters, who in addition to the companion, as provided for under Rule 57(1), require assistance to enter the Polling Station. However, other than the companion accompanying such blind or infirm Voters, and who has fulfilled the conditions for assisting such Voters as provided under the Rule thereof, no other person shall be allowed to enter the voting compartment accompanying such Voters.
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Subject to the maintenance of peace and order, the SEC said that there is no objection to the Media persons taking photographs of crowd of Voters lining up outside the Polling Station. However, no one including the publicity Officials of the State Government should be allowed inside the Polling Station without a Letter of Authority / Entry Pass from the State Election Commission. Under no circumstances will the Media person take photograph of the proceedings inside the Polling Station or go near the voting compartment, violating secrecy of voting, or conduct interview with the Polling Personnel.
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