The northeastern state of Nagaland witnessed a historic event as polling for elections to 25 civic bodies took place after a gap of 20 years on Wednesday morning. The urban local body polls, which included three municipalities and 22 town councils, were conducted for the first time with 33% reservation for women. This election marked an important milestone in Nagaland’s political history and was significant due to the long-awaited implementation of women’s reservation in local body elections.
The state election commission reported that the polling process began at 7:30 am and continued until 4 pm, with over 2.23 lakh voters, including 1,13,521 women, eligible to cast their votes. A total of 523 candidates from 11 political parties vied for seats in the different civic bodies. Notably, instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the voting was conducted using traditional ballot papers in 420 polling stations.
Despite initial concerns regarding security, the polling was reported to be peaceful, as additional security measures were put in place to ensure a smooth election process. However, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) opted out of the election, highlighting the demand for a ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ in the neglected eastern region. The ENPO, representing seven Naga tribes in six districts, chose not to participate in the poll, emphasizing their longstanding grievances.
While 59 nominations were accepted from the ENPO area, tribal bodies influenced candidates to withdraw their nominations, reflecting the complex dynamics of regional politics in Nagaland. As the state witnesses this crucial electoral exercise, it sets the stage for a potentially transformative period in local governance. The outcome of the urban local body elections, with significant women’s participation, is awaited eagerly as Nagaland navigates through this historic juncture in its political landscape.
