Mokokchung, February 24 (MExN): There are numerous complaint letters from different candidates and their agents citing discrepancies in the February 23, Nagaland state assembly polls, but the District Election Officer and Returning Officer disclosed that, there will be no re-polls and he will not recommend it.
Complaint letters have been received from political candidates and political agents alleging that there were discrepancies, such as, improper distribution of voters’ slips and prevention of candidates or supporters into certain villages. However, since there were no incidents of violence, the DEO & Returning Officer in Mokokchung, Muroho Chotso (Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung) asserted that he will not recommend re-polls.
The RO disclosed that he has received complaint letters from the villages of Merangkong, Mongsenyimti, Longkhum, Longmisa, Yaongyimsen, Mopungchuket, Waromung, Alichen and Ungma. These villages and settlements fall under different constituencies in Mokokchung district. If there are to be re-polls then the Election Commission of India has to declare it before the counting day. An official said that they have not received any negative remarks from the presiding officers of the central observers, “so hopefully there will be no re-polls”.
This 2013 election might as well be regarded as one of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in Mokokchung, where violence usually marks any election. Earlier, the police had declared all the 10 constituencies as ‘hyper sensitive’ and elaborate security forces were deployed. There was 218 polling station spread over the ten constituencies in Mokokchung. Mokokchung got the highest companies of security forces – 26 companies of central para-military forces along with the regular state police and IR forces. Besides, it is learnt from reliable sources in the security forces that there were 20 reserved security forces to be deployed in case of any eventuality.
There were fears that there might be serious violence in some of the polling stations, but it passed of peacefully. The question of free and fair can’t be ascertained since in many villages there were ‘consensus candidates’ and there was open declaration of support to a particular candidate by different villages. There are candidates who allege that they were denied entry into certain villages who had ‘consensus candidates’. Meanwhile, the Returning Officer expressed gratitude to the security forces, his subordinates, the public and the elders for making the polling in Mokokchung a peaceful one.
