Election authorities have ruled out any re-poll in the Alichen polling stations under 28 Koridang Assembly Constituency, even as the National People’s Party (NPP) has sought fresh polling citing alleged irregularities.
“There will be no repoll,” Returning Officer Nockpai Konyak told MT. “There has been no communication from ECI yet. We have already send the report to CEO Nagaland.”
He added that scrutiny had already been conducted following the complaint on April 10. “We checked all the documents and have decided to not repoll,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung and District Election Officer Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, said that a scrutiny process was carried out on April 10 in the presence of Observers and the Returning Officer, following the complaint.
“Following the scrutiny, no re-poll was recommended,” Verma said.
“We received the repoll request of the party from the CEO office and so, we have submitted it there. Scrutiny report was also sent to the Election Commission,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NPP, in an urgent reminder addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner on April 13, alleged “voter suppression” and administrative interference in the Alichen polling cluster, referring to its earlier complaint submitted on April 9.
The party specifically flagged Alichen Polling Station II and IV, where turnout figures stood at approximately 15% and 23% respectively, terming them “grossly abnormal and statistically indefensible.”
According to the representation, the two polling stations were affected by a “mid-day halt of voting due to unnecessary Aadhaar/Voter ID verification,” alleged “direct interference by ECI Observer and District Administration,” and what it described as an “intimidatory security environment due to IRB presence.”
The NPP has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to declare the polls in the two stations as vitiated and order a limited re-poll, citing provisions under Article 324 of the Constitution and Sections 58 and 58A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Stating that the Commission has not responded to its earlier complaint, the party has also warned that it may initiate writ proceedings before the High Court under Article 226 if no action is taken within 48 hours.
“Where polling stations record 15%–23% turnout due to direct administrative interference, the election in those booths cannot be said to reflect the will of the people,” the party stated.