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AK Joti[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Nov. 28 (EMN): Amid wide speculations and hope for a settlement to the protracted Naga political issue before the 2018 state assembly election and the latter would be called off, Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) AK Joti on November 28 categorically stated that Nagaland assembly election will take place as scheduled.
Replying to a query during a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday, Joti said the 2018 election will be held ‘definitely’ and that was the reason why the team of Election Commission of India (ECI) including himself was in the state, to make an assessment. The CEC and four other officials of the ECI were in Kohima on a two-day preliminary visit to review poll-preparedness for the forthcoming assembly election.
Joti informed that his team had met representatives of various political parties to understand their issues and concerns, and also reviewed the work of state administration and discussed issues with the chief secretary, DGP as well as other senior state officials.
“Commission has noted all the feedback and information that were given. We will take all these into account and then the election schedule will be announced,” the CEC said.
There are 60 assembly constituencies which will be going to polls in Nagaland and according to the information received from state CEO, there are 11.63 lac. voters as per the draft electoral rolls published on Oct. 3, 2017, Joti stated. He also remarked that special summary revision of electoral rolls with reference to Jan. 1, 2018 as the qualifying date was in progress and the final publication of electoral rolls will be done on Jan. 5, 2018.
It was learnt that all the registered political parties, including the two factions of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) attended the meeting, except for the newly registered Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party.
The CEC highlighted that the representatives of political parties have requested that the ECI election observers should be more proactive and take suitable action on the complaints lodged with them. They also stated to have pointed out that electorate should be made aware of the steps required to be taken by them in case of filing of false affidavits by candidates. On law and order, political parties were said to have raised concern that movement of armed cadres should be curbed to avoid taking sides and attempt to intimidate voters or supporters of rival candidates.
“The commission took note of the concerns and suggestions of the political parties and assured them that all steps would be taken,” the CEC said.
Strict implementation of ceasefire ground rules
“The ECI has directed for strict implementation of ceasefire ground rules so that the movement of armed cadres is curbed in the interest of free and fair election,” CEC Joti said. The visiting ECI team also asked the state administration to tone up the security and law and order environment, and take preventive steps.
The CEC said central armed police forces (CAPF) will be deployed during election for ‘confidence building measures’ while strict vigil on the international border with Myanmar will be maintained by the Assam Rifles to curb movement of armed cadres across the borders. Also, all the police check posts across the state will be under webcasting/video surveillance 24x7 for the entire election period, he added.
When asked about instances of highhandedness of security forces, Joti said the mandate of the Assam Rifles was clear that they guard the international borders and other places where there are serious law and order issues. He stressed that the state machinery was efficient and they would be supplemented by the CAPF.
The commission will be designating general and police observers after the announcement of election to monitor all activities and advise the administration to take suitable action, the official said.
While informing that the team reviewed with enforcement agencies to curb misuse of money, drugs, liquor, and gifts distribution the CEC said the commission will ensure an effective expenditure monitoring during election period.
“180 flying squads, three per assembly constituency, and 94 static surveillance teams will be operationalised[sic] to check movement of cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies in the state,” Joti said, adding that the vehicles used by flying squads will be fitted with GPS to track their movement and prompt action. He also informed that movement of money through banking channels will be monitored and foolproof arrangements will be made to check suspicious transactions.
Stating that income tax officials will be deployed for expenditure monitoring, he said air intelligence units of the Income Tax authorities are to be set up at Dimapur airport. “The IT authorities have also agreed that they will be setting up financial intelligence unit which will be monitoring the high cash transactions in all the banks on a daily basis,” Joti informed.
On being asked when the ECI was likely to give a verdict on the current split within the NPF party, the CEC said it was a quasi-judicial process and the commission will decide after hearing both the factions. He confirmed that both factions of the party have submitted applications and as part of a legal procedure, the commission will first hear both sides and then deliver a judgment.
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