Nagaland civic body polls under way after 20 years, over 20% voting recorded in 2 hours

Historic civic body polls in Nagaland after 20 years with 33% women reservation, peaceful voting, and 523 candidates.

Around 20% of the 2.23 lakh electors exercised their franchise on Wednesday in the first two hours of the civic body polls being held for the first time in Nagaland in 20 years, an official said. Voting began at 7.30 am with tight security arrangements in place and will continue till 4 pm.

This is a historic election in the northeastern State as the polling to three municipalities and 22 town councils was being conducted after a gap of 20 years. The last elections were held in 2004.

The urban local body polls were being held for the first time with 33% women reservation, said the official at the Nagaland State Election Commission.

The government had announced elections to urban local bodies several times in the past but objections from tribal bodies and civil society organisations against reservation for women, and tax on land and properties had held back the polls.

"Polling has been peaceful so far with three-tier security arrangements in place in 214 wards across 10 districts of the State. Over 20% of voting was recorded in the first two hours," the SEC official said.

Over 2.23 lakh voters, including 1,13,521 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 523 candidates from 11 political parties.

Among the parties contesting the elections are the NDPP, BJP, Congress, Naga Peoples' Front (NPF), Rising Peoples' Party, RPI (Athawale), JD(U), LJP, NCP and NPP.