Voters undergoing thermal screening as they queue up outside a polling station during the bye-election at 14-Southern Angami - I Assembly Constituency on November 3. (Morung File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 9
All the necessary arrangements for counting of votes are in place for the bye-election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 14-Southern Angami -I (ST) and 60-Pungro-Kiphire (ST) Assembly Constituency on November 10, the State’s top election official informed today.
Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha informed that the counting of votes for 14-Southern Angami I A/C will be done by the SDO (C) Jakhama & Returning Officer in Kohima, while the ADC Kiphire & Returning Officer will do the same for 60-Pungro-Kiphire A/C in Kiphire.
There will be one counting centre each in Kohima and Kiphire, both in the respective Deputy Commissioner’s complex.
Counting will begin at 8 am in one room for the 22 polling stations of Southern Angami-I seat and two halls for the 77 polling booths of Pungro-Kiphire assembly segment.
Both the districts have made all the necessary arrangements for counting in line with the guidelines and detailed training to all counting personnel have been given, Sinha said. The path for transportation of EVMs from the strong rooms to counting halls have been delineated and barricaded and it would be under CCTV coverage.
The Superintendents of Police of both the districts have made detailed security arrangement and a three-tier security arrangement has been put in place at the two centres, he added.
While, the 1 and 2 tier will be manned by DEF/NAP/IR, the 3 and last tier close to the counting hall will be manned by the personnel from Central Armed Police Forces.
In addition, all the necessary protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19 will be followed at the counting centres, the CEO informed.
Every person entering the counting centre will be thermally screened and hand sanitizers will be provided at the entrances, he said.
Further, the counting centres as well as carrying cases of CUs/VVPATs will be disinfected before, during and after the counting.
The CEO informed that the Returning Officers of both the Assembly Constituencies will regularly upload the round wise data and counting trends which will be available for viewing on the ECI portal https://results.eci.gov.in and the same would be disseminated to the media.
The bye-election to two assembly seats - Southern Angami-I in Kohima and Pungro-Kiphire in Kiphire district - were necessitated following the deaths of the sitting legislators Vikho-o Yhoshü and T Torechu.
Ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) nominee Medo Yhokha, opposition Naga People’s Front’s Kikovi Kirha and Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo are in the race for the Southern Angami-I seat.
Five nominees, including Khaseo Anar of the Indian National Congress, Bhartiya Janata Party’s Lirimong Sangtam and Independent candidates - K Shellumthong, T Yangseo Sangtam and Kiusumew Yimchunger, are in the fray for the Pungro-Kiphire seat.
