Chief Election Officer, Nagaland V.Shashank Shekhar (IAS), Home Commissioner Nagaland Abhijit Sinha (IAS), and Nagaland Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma (IPS), visited Wokha district on 25th February 2023 and held a series of meeting with District Administration, Police, Political Parties and civil societies organizations of Wokha district at the Office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Wokha.
Representatives of BJP, NCP, JDU, NDPP, and NPF attended the meeting with political parties. The meeting with Civil Society Organisations was attended by representatives of Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, and the Wokha District Village Council Chairman Association. The team was also accompanied by Hiazu Meru, Joint Secretary & OSD to CEO, Sharon Longchari, Joint CEO, Ajit Kumar Ranjan, IAS. Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Wokha and Aotula T. Imchen, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Wokha.
The visit is against the backdrop of certain incidents of pre-poll violence in some districts including Wokha. The Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Home commissioner, Nagaland, and DGP, Nagaland reviewed the law and order in the district and held a consultation with the various political parties and civil societies for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and conducting free and fair elections. The visiting officials appealed to the leaders to sensitize the public to maintain peace and not to indulge in any election-related violence. All the stakeholders assured to abide by the guidelines of the Election Commission and to extend support and cooperation to the District Administration and Police for the successful conduct of the election.
V. Shashank Shekhar, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland expressed confidence in the District Administration and Law enforcing agencies for taking proactive measures to maintain the law and order in the district and exhorted them to remain vigilant during the poll and post-poll period. He further informed that even after the polling is over, if the conduct of electoral malpractices has been found against any candidate, action would be taken as per the law. Adding to this, the Home Commissioner said webcasting recordings will be reviewed to ascertain anomalies carried out by any candidate. DGP, Nagaland urged the party representative to create awareness among the electorate to avert creating a situation that may lead to violence.
Abhijit Sinha, IAS, Home Commissioner, Nagaland informed that voter’s information slip is not allowed as identity proof, as one can vote only on producing EPIC ID or any other 12 identity cards approved by the Election Commission of India.
Rupin Sharma, DGP, Nagaland assured of sufficient security forces and appealed to the parties and Civil society organizations to inculcate good behavior among the party supporters and general public so that election can be conducted in a safe, free, and fair manner.
(DPRO & IA, Wokha)
