227 nominations declared valid

Dimapur, Feb. 8 (EMN): After the scrutiny of nomination papers across 60 assembly constituencies in Nagaland, the state's Chief Election Officer (CEO) has informed that out of 257 candidates for the assembly elections, 29 have been found to be invalid. Till late Wed. night the CEO’s office had informed that there were 256 nominations. However, it was informed that news of another nomination came in at midnight, raising the total to 257. “Out of 257 candidates filed nomination papers against 60 assembly constituencies, 227 candidates were found valid, 29 invalid while one candidate scrutiny under 33- Suruhoto is adjourned to Feb. 10,” according to press release from the CEO’s office. Congress candidates miss bus Three Congress candidates failed to file papers—Shami Angh, former MLA from Longleng; Hovito Kiba from Zunheboto; and Choakpba Konyak from Tobu. Congress sources said that the candidates were not to be blamed as the party's high command had announced the list of final candidates only on the eve of the final day of the nomination. Meanwhile, irked at not having been given party ticket, the president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Nagaland unit, S Alfred has reportedly resigned from his post and filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Ghaspani-II assembly constituency.