Electioneering for the February 27 Nagaland Assembly polls concluded on Sunday. Unlike earlier Assembly elections, the entire state witnessed low-profile campaigning this year which came to a close at 4 pm February 25.
The Mokokchung district administration on Sunday evening imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC in entire Mokokchung district.
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Election violence in parts of Nagaland marred the campaigning for the February 27 Nagaland Assembly elections. One person lost his life at Tuli under Mokkchung district two days back while many others were injured in poll-related violence in the district. The violence was mainly restricted to Mokokchung and Wokha district where a number of supporters of contesting parties were injured during the campaigning period.
The February 27 Nagaland Assembly polls will witness straight contest between ruling Naga People’s Front and BJP-NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) combine.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha has on Sunday appealed through mobile SMS to the voters to vote ethically and responsibly from 7 am to 4 pm on February 27 in their respective polling stations.
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Nagaland Governor PB Acharya has also appealed to all citizens, political parties, security agencies, police and other departments to facilitate a peaceful atmosphere during the polling process without any fear.
While the state machinery has geared up to conduct a free and fair poll, the law enforcement agencies on election duty—180 flying squads 84 static surveillance teams (SST) —reportedly confiscated of over Rs 1.7 crore in cash, 32000 litres of liquor besides other contraband from the time the elections were ‘notified’.
According to Nagaland police headquarters, 2121 arrests were made under preventive sections and 45 non-bailable warrants were issued.
Altogether 195 candidates from nine political parties and Independents are in the fray to represent 59 seats out of 60 in Nagaland Assembly polls. Neiphiu Rio, the chief ministerial candidate of NDPP, was declared uncontested after his rival from NPF withdrew nomination.
Chief Minister TR Zelaing and his rival Rio mounted scathing attacks on each other, mainly on their educational qualification issues, during the over two weeks campaigning.
Zeliang had alleged that Rio submitted fake educational documents during the filing of nomination. The NPF chief ministerial candidate stated Rio claimed to have passed his BA (honours) “but in fact he submitted fake documents”.
On the other hand, Rio alleged that Zeliang lied about his educational qualification and gave contradicting claims regarding the year of his graduation. The NDPP chief ministerial candidate said this time Zeliang in his affidavit mentioned ‘BA appeared but failed’ since he was unable to provide his BA certificate. Rio added that there is no certificate for ‘BA appeared’.
The NDPP has appealed to the citizens of the state to cast their votes in favour of BJP-NDPP alliance, promising to bring in good and transparent governance and to draw a new roadmap of progressive development.
The NPF continued with its diatribe against its political friend-turned-foe BJP and NDPP. The party said it is now its bounden duty to protect the identity, tradition and culture of Nagas. NPF promised that it would do its best to safeguard “our traditional ways of life”. It also said the NDPP has no vision for the people of the state.
The NPF said the BJP, once uprooted from Nagaland, would find it really hard to take roots in the state again.