558 candidates in fray till now for ULB polls

With a day left for extended deadline for filing nominations to six councils of the 32 urban local bodies in Nagaland, the State Election Commission (SEC) so far has recorded a total of 558 candidates for the February 1 polls.
According to an official statistics released by State Election Commission (SEC) for ULBs, the 558 candidates include 268 from NPF, 31 from Congress, 79 of BJP and 180 Independents.
There are 171 women candidates, who have also filed their nominations.
The figures were released following the actual date of filing the nominations fixed by the SEC on December 21 last coming to an end yesterday.

However, the number of candidates are likely to increase, as the SEC in consultation with the state government yesterday extended the last date of filing the nominations till 3PM on tomorrow, excluding today, being Sunday.
State Election Commissioner Sentiyanger Imchen, while announcing the extension however informed that the extension was necessitated following request from political parties and candidates as they could not file the nominations till yesterday because of the boycott and bandh imposed by various Naga tribal bodies.

He said that the extension is only for the councils which have reported nil nominations till yesterday.
There are only six such councils, including Kohima and Mokokchung Municipal Councils and Medziphema, Changtongya, Tuensang and Mon Town Councils, the official statistics revealed.

Though candidates have filed nominations, standing firm on the boycott call made by respective tribal organisations, specially Angami Public Organisation (APO), Ao Senden, Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) have asked their community members to withdraw the same before the expiry of the last date of withdrawal, which is January 17 next or face ex-communication.
CPO vice-president Ariyi Nienu has confirmed that 13 of its community members who have filed nomination papers in various councils under Phek district have yesterday entered into an undertaking with CPO to withdraw their candidatures while process with other 56.
Altogether 69 candidates including, 20 female have filed their nominations in three councils, Phek, Chozuba and Pfutsero Town Councils under Phek district.