Historic: Urban Local Body polls in Nagaland after 19 years; EC issues notification; polling on May 16

An anxious wait of 19 years is finally over. In a big development, the Neiphiu Rio government in Nagaland just a day after assuming office has issued direction to the State Election Commission to hold the General election to constitute the Municipal Councils and Town Councils in the state.

As such the much anticipated ULB polls will be held on May 16, whereas the counting of results will be done on May 19.

The Rio government has also issued directives to the State Election Commission for 33 percent reservation of seats for women. The last Urban Local Body elections in the state was held in 2004.

Soon after this, State Election Commissioner T Mhabemo Yanthan through a notification has ntoified the Election Programme to conduct the general election to 3 Municipal Councils and 36 Town Councils in the state.

As such the filing of nominations will begin on April 3 and will end on April 10. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on April 12 and April 13. Meanwhile the last date of withdrawal of candidature in April 24.

In August 2022 the Nagaland government had decided to appeal to the Supreme Court to grant more time for conducting the elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs), citing “difficulties” faced by the state.

The Supreme Court had earlier listed the matter for reporting compliance in the second week of February 2023. It also slammed the government for failing to give administrative approval for the final publication of electoral rolls (scheduled on November 24, 2022) in time.

It may be mentioned that violent protests had erupted in 2017 with influential groups opposing 33 per cent reservation for women in the municipal bodies. Two lives were lost during clash between security forces and the protestors.