Kohima: As the Election Commission of India has declared the date of Nagaland Assembly election on February 23, the national and regional political parties started preparing for the elections amidst slogan of ‘solution first, election next’.
The state was little bit surprised by the announcement of the election date by ECI. The president of the ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and Minister of Urban Development and Higher Education Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu said since the ECI has announced the date, the party has no alternative but to start preparing for the polls.
He also stated the NPF party was yet to further discuss on the poll. The president of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) S. I. Jamir reacted that he was aware of the Election dates being declared and said the party cannot go against this decision. He refused to comment further.
He also informed that he has summoned an Election Committee Meeting of his party on Monday at Dimapur.
Nagaland unit of BJP Dr. Chuba Ao told UNI that the announcement of the Assembly election is a Constitutional matter and they were expecting the announcement. He informed that they have already started preparing for the elections and a party meeting will be held at Kohima this afternoon. National parties like NCP, RJD and JD (U) also reportedly started preparing to fight the Assembly election in the state, however, they could not be contacted so far.
Model Code of Conduct forces in Nagaland
With the announcement of Assembly election date in Nagaland on Friday, the Election Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Nagaland with immediate effect.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland J. Alam in a release said the Model Code of Conduct has come into force from on Friday.
He said the issue of notification would be made on January 30 and the last date of filing of Nomination is on February 6.
The date of scrutiny is on February 7 and the last date of withdrawal of nomination is on February 9. The election will start from 0700 to 1600 hours.
Counting of votes will take place on February 28 .
There are 60 Assembly Constituencies with a total of 11,81,731 electorates in the State as per the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls published, of which 5,97,204 are male and 5,84,527 are female. (UNI)