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The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the schedule for Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya Assembly polls today.
The term of the three Assemblies is set to end on different dates in March. While Tripura has a BJP government, in Nagaland, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party is in power. Meanwhile, National People’s Party, the only party from the North-East to have a national party recognition, runs the government in Meghalaya.
Also read | Prepare to win all nine Assembly polls this year, Nadda tells BJP
Here are the latest updates:
CPI(M), Congress to jointly contest Tripura elections
The CPI(M) and Congress have announced that they will fight the Tripura Assembly elections together, in a major shake-up in the political arena of the northeastern State, where the two parties were considered arch-rivals.
The announcement was made after AICC general secretary Ajoy Kumar held a meeting with CPI(M) State secretary Jitendra Choudhury on January 13. Left Front convener Narayan Kar was also present at the meeting.
“A state Congress team will sit with the CPI(M) state secretary to formulate a strategy and finalise the seat sharing. We will fight together in the assembly elections,” Mr. Kumar told reporters. Mr. Choudhury said both the CPI(M) and Congress have started discussions with “an open mind” to fulfill the people’s aspirations and defeat the BJP, which has been “destroying the constitutional order” in the State for the past five years.- PTI
Over 30,000 first-time voters to participate in forthcoming Nagaland elections: Election Commission
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on January 14 said that over 13.9 lakh electors are registered in Nagaland and over 30,000 first-time voters are set to participate in the forthcoming State Assembly elections.
He informed that 2,315 polling stations will be set up across 60 assembly constituencies and the average voter per polling station will be 566 while the webcasting facility will be available in sixty per cent of the polling stations.
While also stating that, over 13.9 lakh electors are registered in the State and over 30,000 first-time voters are set to participate in the forthcoming elections, he said.
Mr. Kumar said that for the convenience of senior citizens and persons with disabilities, all arrangements are made at the polling stations on the ground floor while a postal ballot facility will also be there for 80 plus years and persons with disabilities voters to vote from their comfort of their homes.- ANI
Election Commission committed to ‘deliver election’ in Nagaland: CEC Rajiv Kumar
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 14 asserted that as mandated by the Constitution it would ‘deliver election’ in Nagaland.
“We will deliver the elections despite whatever calls there are and it doesn’t affect the political process,” said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar while replying to media queries in presence of Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel here.
The Naga civil societies have been demanding solution to vexed Naga Political Issue before the conduct of the state election while the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation have declared not to participate in the election process unless their demand for a separate State composed of the six eastern districts are fulfilled.
The Constitution clearly provides and mandates the ECI that the elected government has to be in place before the end of the term of the present Assembly and if it does not happen, it possesses different kinds of problems, Kumar said.
“ECI is mandated under the Constitution to conduct elections and declare results to put the duly elected government in place before the term of the present Assembly comes to end and we are duty bound to do that,” he said.
The term of the present Nagaland Assembly expires on March 12, the CEC said.- PTI
ECI committed to free, fair and inducement-free elections in Tripura: Kumar
The Election Commission of India on January 12 said it is ‘committed and duty bound’ to conduct free, fair, and inducement-free elections in Tripura.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the ECI has taken all arrangements to allow voters to join the ‘festival of democracy’ and if a voter faces any threat or intimidation on the day of polling, he or she can use cVigil app to inform the election authorities.
“We had an in-depth discussion on the election process with the Chief Secretary, DGP, representatives of political parties, DMs, SPs and enforcement agencies for two days. The election commission is committed and duty bound to conduct free, fair, violence-free and inducement-free election”, Kumar said at a press conference here.- PTI
People in villages along disputed border with Assam can vote in upcoming Meghalaya polls: CEC
Registered voters living in villages along the disputed border with Assam can participate in the upcoming assembly elections in Meghalaya, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on January 13.
Mr. Kumar led an Election Commission of India (ECI) team in a two-day review of poll preparedness in Meghalaya. The visit concluded during the day.
“People living in villages along the disputed border can participate in the elections despite what has happened. Both sides have held joint meetings and discussions are taking place at the senior level as well. We are alive to the situation and there is nothing to worry,” Mr. Kumar said.
“There is no problem. We have reviewed the situation at our end and district officials from both sides have had detailed meetings,” he said.
The CEC said the commission has instructed 16 central agencies to work in a coordinated manner in expenditure-sensitive constituencies.- PTI
Meghalaya’s ruling NPP announces 58 candidates for Assembly polls
The ruling NPP in Meghalaya on January 12 announced a list of 58 candidates for elections to the 60-member Assembly in the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will be fighting the elections from South Tura in West Garo Hills district, while his deputy Prestone Tynsong will contest from Pynursla in East Khasi Hills district.
Industries Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar is the candidate from Nartiang in West Jaintia Hills district and Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare will fight the elections from Nongkrem in East Khasi Hills district.
Addressing a rally at the Polo Grounds, the chief minister said that several MLAs from different parties have joined the NPP over the last five years, which demonstrates that the it “is growing stronger”.
The NPP has given nomination to at least 10 MLAs who have switched sides ahead of the elections. Among them are former Congress MLAs Ampareen Lyngdoh (Laitumkhrah) and Mohindro Rapsang (West Shillong), former PDF MLA Hamletson Dohling (Mylliem) and former HSPDP MLA Samlin Malngiang (Sohiong).
“These MLAs have not joined NPP for political gains but for the greater cause of serving the people of the state,” Sangma asserted.- PTI
Congress appoints observers for Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland polls; Mukul Wasnik named senior observer
The Congress appointed observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland early next year, with party MP Mukul Wasnik named senior observer for the three States.
The Congress appointed two observers each for the States.
“The Congress president has appointed senior observer and observers for ensuing assembly elections 2023 for the respective states, with immediate effect,” the party said in an official communication.
While Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik has been named senior observer for the elections in the three States, party MP from Kerala Benny Mehnan and former MP JD Seelam have been appointed as observer for the Meghalaya polls.
For Nagaland, former Goa chief minister Francisco Sardinha and K. Jayakumar, both MPs, have been appointed as observers while the Congress’ Delhi unit leader Arvinder Singh Lovely and party MP Abdul Khaleque have been named observers for the Tripura polls.
2023 to witness series of Assembly polls, being seen as semifinals to Lok Sabha elections
A series of Assembly polls this year are being considered as semi-finals to the Lok Sabha election slated to be held in the summer of 2024.
The northeastern States of Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya will be the first to have Assembly polls, most likely in February-March. The terms of their respective legislative Assemblies is ending on different dates in March.
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