Lok Sabha election phase 1: No voters turn out in six districts of Nagaland

Guwahati: There was hardly any turn out of the voters in six districts of the Eastern part of Nagaland following the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) clamping a shutdown since Thursday. In Manipur there were incidents of firing and booth damage during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday.
The ENPO has earlier asked people to abstain from voting due to non-fulfilment of its demand for a separate state. In the lone seat of Nagaland, the voting percentage stood at 56.18 till 5pm while in 2019 the voting percentage stood at 83 percent.

Election officials said that so far, no voter cast their votes in six Eastern Nagaland districts in view of various Naga groups’ call to the people to “abstain” from Friday’s voting in support of their statehood demand. Even the MLAs of 20 assembly segments in the Eastern Nagaland did not turn up to vote. There are over 738 polling stations in the six districts of Eastern Nagaland.

There are around four lakh eligible voters in the six Eastern Nagaland districts. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio after casting his vote at a school in Kohima said that the state government has proposed the constitution of an autonomous body for the development of the Eastern Nagaland and people residing in the area.

“The Election Commission has served a show cause notice to the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for calling the people to abstain from voting,” the Chief Minister told the media. Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer R. Vyasan in his show cause notice to the ENPO indicated to take appropriate action under the Indian Penal Code. Election officials said that over 13.25 lakh voters, including 6.64 lakh women, would decide the electoral fate of three candidates – opposition Congress nominee S Supongmeren Jamir, ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha. The ENPO in support of their separate state demand has urged the people to abstain from voting in the six Eastern Nagaland districts – Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator and Noklak. Seven tribes Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung — live in the six eastern districts. Manipur

Amidst incidents of vandalization of polling booths, firing between the rival groups, clashes in more than six places around 68.62 per cent of 15.44 lakh voters cast their votes in two Lok Sabha seats (one partially) in ethnic violence-hit Manipur.

While voting took place in Kuki-dominated districts, Churachandpur another Kuki dominated district Kangpokpi saw dismal voters turn out.

The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills directed its members of the Kuki community in Sadar Hills to abstain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

In 2019 the Inner and outer seat registered voters’ percentage of 81.12 percent and 84.14 percent respectively. 15 of the 28 Assembly segments of the Outer Manipur (ST) parliamentary constituency went to polls. Voting will be held in the remaining 13 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur (ST) seat in the second phase on April 26.

Police officials said that in Thongju assembly constituency a booth polling was disrupted for some time after armed people entered the booth. “ When the voters came to cast their votes they were informed that their votes were cast by people in camouflaged dress. There was an argument between the people and polling officials. Voters seized the EVM and destroyed it.”

Similarly polling at Bamon Kampu was disrupted following the interference of armed miscreants. Police said that around 20 miscreants came to the booth and took away the EVM. The voters’ rage over the incident destroyed the EVM. In Arapti in Keirao at least six people were injured following the assault of armed miscreants.

In a booth in Uripok, EVM was vandalised. In Sajet (A) in Moirang Kampu a person sustained bullet injuries in the attack of the armed miscreants. Congress alleged that its polling agents were intimidated and threatened in several places. There was also a report of election related violence in Kakching.

Clashes among the rival party supporters reported from Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West districts. Low voter turnout recorded in the Inner seat. Sources said that Khundrakpam recorded a turnout of 70.35 percent, Heingang witnessed 77%, Khurai saw 68%, Kshetrigao registered 66.40%, Thongju had 74.37%, Keirao 74.05%, Andro saw 71.76%, Lamlai noted 69.34%,Thangmeiband 62.24%, Uripok recorded a low 29.55%, Sagolband 66.5%,Keishamthong had 71%,Singjamei 73.62%,Yaiskul recorded 75%,Wangkhei saw 60%, Sekmai (SC) and Lamsang both witnessed a turnout of 65%, Konthoujam recorded 62.37%, Patsoi registered 66.14%, Langthabal had 71.14%, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa noted 69%, Wangoi 72.44%, Mayang Imphal polled 68.61%, Nambol recorded a high 77.35%, Oinam had 52%, Bishnupur saw 70.99%, Moirang had 66.84%, Thanga recorded 55%, Kumbi registered 62.01%, Lilong witnessed 71.45%, Thoubal recorded 71.50%, and Wangkhem reported 74.21% turnout.

In outer seat Saitu and Saikul witnessed a mere 13.22% and 8.58% turnout respectively, while Henglep recorded with 49%, Churachandpur Stood at 43.67%, whereas Chandel witnessed 68.63%. Khangabok in Thoubal witnessed 52.68% voting.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh accompanied by his wife cast his vote at Srivan Higher Secondary School Polling Station while other leaders cast their votes in other polling stations early in the morning.

Singh expressing his hope of winning BJP candidate in Inner Manipur seat Basanta Kumar Singh and Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate in the Outer Manipur constituency K Timothy Zimik, said that the election is very crucial to save and protect the indigenous population of the state as well as to protect the integrity of the state and bring peace at the earliest.

Over 15.44 lakh voters, including 8.02 lakh females, were eligible to decide the electoral fate of 10 candidates in the two Lok Sabha seats — six in Inner Manipur and four in Outer Manipur (ST).

The main contest is expected between the BJP-Naga People’s Front (NPF) alliance and the Congress-led INDIA bloc.

The ruling BJP has put up the state’s Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh against Congress nominee Angomcha Bimol Akoijam in the Inner Manipur seat.

The ruling party extended support to its ally NPF nominee Kachui Timothy Zimik, who is contesting against Congress’ Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur in the Outer Manipur (ST) seat.

The Election Commission has set up 85 special polling stations for the ethnic violence-affected displaced voters in seven districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts.

Majority of 18,091 Internally Displaced Voters, who are staying in the relief camps in seven districts, exercised their franchise in their respective Special Polling Stations.

Over 8,000 polling personnel were deployed to conduct the voting in 2107 polling stations.

15 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats across the eight states went to polls in the first phase.