Peaceful Polling in Nagaland's Lone LS Seat with 56% Turnout Despite Abstention Call

In a significant turn of events, Nagaland witnessed a peaceful polling day for its lone Lok Sabha seat, albeit with a notably low voter turnout of over 56 per cent, as reported by Chief Electoral Officer Vyasan R. This marked a departure from the state's previous records, which boasted the highest voter turnout in the country at 87.82 per cent in 2014 and 83 per cent in 2019. The reduced participation comes in the wake of over 4 lakh electors from eastern Nagaland abstaining from voting, a move influenced by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation's (ENPO) call for a voting boycott in six districts over demands for a separate state.

The polling commenced at 7 am, with the turnout remaining consistent throughout the day. However, the final voter percentage is yet to be confirmed, pending scrutiny of documents from remote polling stations. The preliminary figures suggest that out of 13.25 lakh registered voters, only 56 per cent cast their votes. The ENPO's call significantly impacted the six eastern districts, where not a single vote was cast in over 738 polling stations.

In response to a show cause notice, ENPO clarified that the shutdown was a collective decision by tribal bodies and not an imposition by the organisation itself. They asserted that their actions did not infringe upon individual rights but rather represented a unified stand for their cause. The CEO Vyasan R has issued a cautionary order to ENPO, emphasizing the importance of not interfering with electoral processes.

Despite isolated complaints of booth capturing in Kohima, Mokokchung, and Phek districts, these were quickly resolved by sectoral magistrates, ensuring the integrity of the polling process. Returning Officer Sushil Kumar Patel mentioned that there is currently no demand for a re-poll, but a final decision will be made after thorough document scrutiny.

State Nodal Police Officer Limasunep Jamir reported a peaceful election day with only three arrests made in Wokha district for impersonation. He assured that the Electronic Voting Machines are securely stored and anticipated no post-poll violence in Nagaland.

Notable figures including Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio participated in the voting process, alongside Congress candidate S Supongmeren Jamir and NDPP nominee Chumben Murry. Independent candidate Hayithung Tungoe Lotha also joined them in casting votes within their respective constituencies. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4, marking an end to this significant electoral event.