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NPF candidate for 10 Northern Angami-I AC, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu.[/caption]
Our Correspondents
Kohima, July 29 (EMN): By and large, the by-election to the 10th Northern Angami I A/C ended peacefully with the final voting percentage at 78.55% totalling to 12, 752 voters who turned out to exercise their franchise out of the total 16,235 voters.
The highest percentage of voters, with 92.1%, was recorded at polling station number 24 at Chedema Model Village, while the lowest percentage was recorded at polling station number 23, at Lower Bayavü Hills-II at 56.1%.
Informing this at a press briefing this evening the chief electoral officer of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha said polling was held at 25 polling stations which per schedule, though the voting machines at polling stations No 17 and 14 suffered some technical problems.
However, he informed that ECL engineers were sent to the spot to examine and change the machines before the start of the ‘mock poll’. Except at two polling stations, the polling got over by 5 pm.
After the voting hours were over, according to Sinha, the deputy commission and returning officer had received a complaint from the Independent candidate, Kekhrie Yhome regarding polling station 6 at Bayavü Middle locality. Yhome was said to have alleged that the BLO, while casting his vote, at said location had ‘stayed longer than necessary inside the polling booth’.
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Independent candidate Kekhrie Yhome and his wife showing their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their votes.[/caption]
In this regard, Sinha informed that the RO was getting a report from the sector magistrate and the presiding officer. The RO will scrutinize the diary, get their version and decide accordingly, it was informed.
He further informed that the commission would be scrutinising the permanent videographers, cameras, the report of the micro observer from central government, diary of presiding officers supposed to keep records of all incidents and activities. Only then the RO will take a considered view on what is to be done on the complaint, he said.
When asked if there was any likelihood of a re-poll at polling station 6, Sinha opined that as the complainant had used the term ‘his presence has vitiated’ – concerning the BLO’s duration inside polling booth – it could allude to a re-poll. However, he clarified the final decision would be taken only after scrutinizing all evidences.
In this regard, he informed that on July 30 at 12 noon, scrutiny of “one register 17A –register of voters records” would be done in the presence of ‘observers and the candidates, the election agents and the representatives’.
This, he informed, was necessitated only for those polling stations where there have been complaints and the voting percentage was “below or above 50% of the all district average and other related issues”. He said discrepancies would be acted upon accordingly after due scrutiny.
Sinha said the sectors magistrates and the police were on the move constantly at all polling stations. He said the election went off peacefully, smoothly and the voting was conducted in a free and fair manner.
When asked about the Supreme Court’s decision to admit the Special Leave Petition filed by the NPCC with regard to the conduct of the by-election, Sinha said the department was yet to receive any order or direction from anywhere.
Hence, he informed, unless it receives direction from the Election Commission of India (ECI]) counting of votes would be carried out on August 3 per schedule.
Early in the morning, both the candidates contesting the by-elections – Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu (NPF) and Kekhrie Yhome (Independent) – cast their respective votes at around 9 am. Journalists covering the elections caught up with both the candidates at their respective polling stations and asked of their views on the by-election, their opponent and their priorities if elected.
“I am hopeful that this by-election, with the support of the Kohima village council, youth organisation and all the locality panchayats involved in the conduct of a free and fair election, will set a benchmark for all other elections to come, particularly the coming state general elections”.
On contesting against a veteran politician in the person of Liezietsu, Yhome candidly said the excitement of measuring up to a veteran politician was definitely there.
“There are no personal issues involved in this. I consider him as a gentleman, and he has been a fatherly figure. I am a novice, but politics is a game where there is no issue of father and son, and so it’s all free and fair,” he added.
If elected, Yhome shared, he looks forward to represent the aspirations of the youth as well as reforming the existing electoral practices.
“What is essentially important is that, instead of talking about development, rather we shall first reform the electoral practices...reform the practices which has manifested corruption, proxy voting etc. It’s a dual process for us,” Yhome stated.
“This time, by name it is a by-election, but I think this is a big fight because all the big shots and tall leaders are against me”. The former chief minister said, suggesting involvement of other political characters.
Interestingly, he also described his opponent as a proxy candidate. “I am very sorry to say, but he is a proxy candidate. He is a gentleman but as far as this by-election is concerned, he is only a proxy candidate.”
When asked about his priority if he gets elected, Liezietsu said he would be able to say something about his future plans only after the results are out.
On the Supreme Court issuing a notice to the ECI to hold the by-election result till the proceeding in the court is over, Liezietsu said he had no idea about it. He maintained that it has no connection as the by-election was being held as per the notification of the Election Commission of India.
Therefore, he opined, even the court would find it difficult to interfere.