Kohima: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Therie has thanked all the voters of Nagaland, who voted on their conscience.
In a release on Friday, Therie said many of voters have taken a courageous decision to defend faith, identity, culture, language, history and their way of life.
“Your vote will go a long way to correct the wrong doings in the nation and state and to provide for future needs. Genuine voter turnout was low, but polling percentage was as high as 78.67% by the end of polling. This only goes to speak that proxy voting was rampant.”
In violation of election ‘Model Code of Conduct’, ‘One Person One Vote’ and the appeal of Churches forum for clean election, many Village Councils and Chieftains have captured proxy votes and voted in favour of NDPP and BJP candidates in the name of development obliging to gratification and promises offered by the ruling government, he claimed.
Therie said proxy voting results in impersonation and forgery, violates the Model Code of Conduct and is also a sin in religion.
“I condemn the selfish and self-centered voters who have voted for bribes and other gratifications while they use the word ‘development’ to cover their gratifications.”
The Congress president alleged that “the greatest failure was on the part of the Presiding Officers and Polling Officers. Most officers have not upheld the Model Code of Conduct. They were dictated by Village Councils and Chieftains and have allowed family head voting in many polling stations. In the name of family, proxy votes were also allowed. Voter slip and one identity card were required as per ECI’s notice. Most presiding officers or polling officers have not enforced that.”
Proxy voters were also allowed to sign or affix thumb impression for other voters, he added. (UNI)
