MM Thromwa Konyak who filed his nomination papers as an Indian Christian Secular Party candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Nagaland will have to contest as an Independent candidate.
Nagaland Returning Officer M Patton informed that Konyak has failed to produce the original signed copies of Form A and B issued by his party.
Patton said though Konyak’s other nomination papers were found valid after scrutiny, he will have to contest as an Independent candidate if he chooses to remain in the race.
Nomination papers of the other three candidates — Tokheho Yepthomi of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), KL Chishi of Congress and Hayithung Tungoe of National People’s Party (NPP) – for the Lok Sabha polls were found valid.
Nomination papers of all the four candidates — Alemjongshi Longkumer (Congress), Sharingain Longkumer (NDPP), Toshipokba Longkumer (NPF) and O Tinujungshi Longkumer (NPP) – for the by-election to Aonglenden Assembly Constituency were also found valid after scrutiny.
The last date of withdrawal of candidature for both Lok Sabha elections and the by-poll is on Thursday. Both the Lok Sabha polls and by-elections will be held in the state simultaneously on April 11 next.
The Nagaland government on Wednesday declared April 11next as paid holiday for all the employees of government, private and business establishments in the state to enable them to participate and exercise their franchise in the election, chief secretary Temjen Toy said in a notification.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said a total of 12,13,777 electorate are eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha poll while the Aonglenden Assembly constituency has 12,482 eligible voters as per the latest electorate count.
There will be 2,227 polling stations for the parliamentary poll and 16 polling stations for the by-election in the state, Sinha said. A total of 450 polling stations have been identified as ‘critical’ and ‘vulnerable’, he said.
The CEO informed that paramilitary forces have already started arriving in the state for the impending polls. Sinha said 605 persons have been bound down under preventive sections till Tuesday while 1,879 arm licenses have been deposited and six arms seized by the police so far.
Sinha added 19,038 litres of liquor and Rs 70 lakh in cash have also been seized.
