Bypolls to two seats in Nagaland on March 8

Kohima, Feb 9 (UNI) Following the deaths of two Nagaland Legislative Assembly MLAs recently, Election Commission of India(ECI) has announced that the by-elections to Dimapur-I and 54 Tuensang Sadar-II Assembly Constituencies in the state will be held on March 8.

Confirming the date of election, state's Chief Electoral Officer C J Ponraj, in a statement, said, ''As per an ECI release, the programme include issue of notification, last date of filing nominations, scrutiny of nominations, last date of withdrawal of candidatures, date of poll, counting of votes and completion of election process should be by March 15.

The Commission has also announced that the model code of conduct has come into force from the date of announcement of poll on February 6 and 7. It would be applicable to all political parties and the State/Union Government in the whole of the districts of Tuensang and Dimapur.

The by-elections were necessitated following the demise of two BJP MLAs Dr. Hokishe Sema and Lakiumong of Dimapur-I and 54 Tuensang Sadar-II Assembly Constituencies respectively.

UNI