Page 273 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Spotlight on Recent Elections Chapter 12

The Government of Nagaland has been publishing
It has come to the notice of Election Commission of
narrative reports of all legislative assembly elections held
India that candidates/political party activities did not
in the state since 1963 (and Lok Sabha elections in the
state since 1984) that serve as valuable resource material adhere to the 48-hour silence period before the end of
polling in matter of tweets/social media posts. is
to reconstruct the electoral history of the state. The very
implied violation of Model Code of Conduct. e
first election in the new state was staggered into five
Election Commission for the first time issued notices to
phases between January 10 and 21, 1964 that witnessed
political parties during the elections to three states. On
76.57 percent voting. A conventionally high voting state,
February 16, 2023 the Commission issued notices to
its electorate has been giving a befitting reply to the
three major political parties for their tweets on poll-eve
bullets of the insurgents with their ballots. However,
and polling day to vote in their favour during the Tripura
allegations of buying and selling of votes have been fairly
common for many years. Nagaland has thus been in elections. At a time when social media has become an
important arm of publicity, this notice served well to
special focus of Election Commission of India to keep
uphold the autonomy of the Model Code of Conduct
elections inducement free.
and promote the cause of free and fair elections.
This time, the community itself took up the onus of
keeping the elections clean. The Nagaland Baptist Church
Council (NBCC) initiated a Clean Election Campaign. video competitions on the theme ‘My Opinion of Elections
Though Election Commission of India does not formally in Nagaland’ were also organised.
associate itself with any religious body to promote the Community led initiatives for clean and ethical elections
ideal of clean, inclusive, participatory and accessible were noticeable in Meghalaya as well. Dorbar Chnong in
elections, it sincerely welcomes the initiative by any Panaliar prohibited candidates and political parties from
lawful organisation whether religious or civic in nature to bringing crowds for campaigning. Dorbar Chnong is a
raise public awareness. Kohima Village, also called Bara traditional assembly amongst the Khasis, of which all Khasi
Basti, the second largest village in Asia, also adopted a inhabitants of the village not less than 18 years are
resolution to keep the elections clean and fair. Several members. The lead provided by Panaliar was followed up
village councils adopted similar resolutions. A vibrant by Dorbar Chnongs in Longpiah, Loompyrdi, Loomiongkjam
and vigilant society is the best asset for democracy. and several others in East Jaintia Hills district.
A number of awareness programmes were undertaken for 'Flame of Democracy', an initiative of District Election
ethical voting. At a programme organised by CEO, Nagaland Office, East Khasi Hills District, in collaboration with
office for Kohima Science College and Sazolie College, the Meghalaya Model United Nations, inspired people to
state SVEEP icon, Aseto Zao, encouraged young voters with vote unfailingly and ethically in the elections. The flame,
the words, “No to Note, Yes to Vote”. At a programme mounted on a Democracy Van traversed through all
organised by Central Bureau of Communication (Ministry constituencies of the district between February 14 and
of I&B) in Kohima, hundreds of participants downloaded 25. Its itineraries were marked by interactive events like
cVIGIL App on spot as demonstrated by Deputy music, dance, torch run and public participation to
Commissioner/District Magistrate. Essay writing and short ensure high voter turnout.

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