Nagaland sets to hold Lok Sabha election today

KOHIMA/ DIMAPUR — With the general election to the 18th Lok Sabha scheduled on April 19, Kohima district administration on Thursday dispatched the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) along with polling officials, vehicles and security personnel from the deputy commissioner’s office.

Speaking to journalists, the deputy commissioner of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, informed that there are 186 polling stations under Kohima district spread across six assembly segments out of which 51 polling stations will be managed by women polling personnel.

He informed that that the 10th Northern Angami-I Assembly Constituency (AC) will be completely managed by the women polling personnel, while one polling station at Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) will be manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs) while another polling station will be completely manned by youth polling personnel. He added that many of them will conduct the election process for the first time and are excited.

DC informed that 44 polling stations were marked as critical and added that more security personnel will be deployed.

He maintained that the dispatch of EVM began at 6 am in the morning with a prayer and the strong room was opened in the presence of micro-observer followed with distribution of voting machines to the polling personnel.

He informed that the mock poll will start from 5:30 am on April 19 while the actual poll will start from 7 am toil 4 pm.

Meanwhile, the DC informed that Kohima district has requisitioned vehicles for six other districts and added that the state has not requisitioned any vehicle from outside the state.

In a related programme, Dimapur district administration on Thursday dispatched polling parties and security personnel along with the EVMs and other equipment to various polling stations at the State Stadium, Dimapur.

A total of 800 vehicles have been requisitioned for Dimapur I, II, and III Assembly Constituencies to transport polling teams, security personnel and necessary equipment.

Dimapur-I AC has 41 polling stations, while Dimapur-II AC has 77 polling stations, and Dimapur-III AC has 54 polling stations.

A total of 860 government employees will manage the polling stations along with security personnel. Each polling station will consist of one presiding officer, three polling officers and one Grade IV staff.

An official at the transportation dispatch counter, H Akumlong Sangtam, disclosed that 100 vehicles have been dispatched to Mon district from Dimapur on April 15 and 10 NST buses to Peren district on April 16.

Sangtam also mentioned that unlike the previous elections, where some vehicles were sourced from Assam, this time all vehicles have been requisitioned from within Nagaland itself.

On Thursday, the strong room was opened at the DC’s office in the presence of the deputy commissioner, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang; assistant returning officers (ARO) representing Dimapur I, II and III, along with representatives from various political parties.