Nagaland Lok Sabha Elections Phase 1: Nearly zero per cent voting recorded in six districts 

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As the voters in the world’s largest democracy headed to the polls, six districts in the Indian state of Nagaland, on Friday (Apr 19) reported zero per cent voter turnout following the election boycott called by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Front (ENPO). 

Nagaland Lok Sabha Elections Phase 1

Nagaland, which has only one Lok Sabha seat, wrapped up its voting in the first and only phase. However, polling personnel in six eastern districts of Nagaland waited for nine hours in booths, but none of the over 400,000 voters they were expecting showed up. 

The polling started at 7:00 am (local time) hours after a ‘public emergency’ declared by the ENPO which demanded a separate administration of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) with more financial autonomy. 

The ENPO is the apex body of the seven tribal organisations in the eastern region. A report by PTI citing officials said there was no movement of people or vehicles on major streets in eastern Nagaland. 

Between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm (local time), the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said that the polling personnel were present in the 738 polling stations in the region. 

The six districts in question have 400,632 out of the 13.2 million voters in the state. 

Notably, a report by news agency PTI citing sources at the chief electoral officer’s office said the 20 MLAs of Nagaland also did not show up to vote in those nine hours. 

No issue with the demand: CM

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, on Friday, said that the state government does not have a problem with the ENPO’s demand for FNT and has recommended an autonomous body so that the region gets sufficient economic packages. 

Rio, speaking to reporters after casting his vote at his village in Touphema, said that he had accepted the draft working paper for FNT which was handed over to him in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The group has demanded separation after alleging that the successive governments did not bring about socio-economic development in the region.

‘Undue influence’

Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Vayasan R issued a show cause notice to the ENPO, on Thursday (Apr 18) night after it called for boycotting the vote. 

Under sub-section (1) of Section 171C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), “Whoever voluntarily interferes or attempts to interfere with the free exercise of any electoral right commits the offence of undue influence at an election.”

However, the ENPO president Tsapikiu Sangtam on Friday claimed that it does not apply in this context, saying that the public notice aimed to “reduce the possibility of disturbances in the Eastern Nagaland region, which is under our jurisdiction, and the risk linked with gatherings of anti-social elements.” 

“Given that the shutdown was a voluntary initiative by the people, there was no question of coercion or enforcement by the ENPO or any other authority,” it added. 

The notice was issued on Thursday night hours before the election which imposed an indefinite total shutdown in the eastern part of the state. 

(With inputs from agencies)