Dimapur, Jan. 14: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has asked the government to postpone the municipal and town council elections and reschedule it. The Congress has accused the Nagaland government of misleading the public over the issue of municipal and town elections. The NPCC issued a press release on Saturday accusing the state of misusing power.
“The NPCC is dumbfounded to observe the misuse of power by the government of the day in directing the State Election Commission for the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland to mislead the innocent general public,” the NPCC stated in the note.
“The NPF-led DAN government in the State, which has developed the habit of turning the rules and regulations for their own motives has once again misguided the people by using the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2003 in extending the last date of filing nominations to the February 1, 2017 elections to ULBs.”According to the Congress, the notification of the State Election Commission issued on January 7 states “in exercise of the powers under sub rule (7) of Rule 20 of the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules 2003, hereby extend the period for filing of nominations for the Municipal and Town Councils upto 3PM of 9th January 2017”.
However, the press release stated, the said sub rule is applicable only subject to the provisions of sub-rule (6) which states “The last date for making nomination, their scrutiny and withdrawal shall not be public holidays. If any of the last dates for these purposes happens to be a public holiday such nominations, scrutiny or withdrawal shall take place, the next succeeding day, which is not a public holiday”.
In this regard, the NPCC has reminded the State Election Commission that the last date of nomination as per the programme for the municipal and town council election in Nagaland issued on the 21st of December 2016 was fixed for January 7, 2017, and it was not a public holiday.
The NPCC explained that it was of the ‘considered opinion’ that the rules cited by the State Election Commission, which must have been done in consultation and under the directive of the state government, do not have any provisions for extension of the dates for nomination because of “not receiving nominations”.
This is clear violation of the election process by the concern authority, the NPCC stated. “Such misinterpretation of the given rules to mislead the innocent general public by those at the helms of affair to serve their interest is not acceptable in the general interest of the public and also against the laid down rules for conducting the elections,” the Congress alleged.
The NPCC has asked the government to postpone the municipal and town council elections and reschedule it only after implementing the given rules “lest NPCC will not deter to take the matter with the appropriate forum.”
