SEC declares 535 nominations to ULB polls as valid

The State Election Commission (SEC) today declared nominations of 535 candidates as valid for Feburary 1 elections to 355 seats of urban local bodies spread over 11 districts of Nagaland.
Altogether 535 candidates, from the Naga People's Front (NPF), BJP, Congress and Independents, are in the fray despite a call for boycott by almost all the tribal organisations opposing 33 reservation for women in the state. The filing of nominations concluded on Monday last, with extended date on Monday.
The 535 contestants comprised - 255 NPF, 28 Congress, 78 BJP and 174 independents.
There are 187 woman candidate in fray, the SEC said.

Out of the 32 councils, including three municipal councils and 29 town councils, nominations in six councils were zero as tribal organisations picketed the Returning Officer's office while also imposing bandhs not allowing anyone to file nominations.
The six councils are Kohima and Mokokchung Municipal Councils and Medziphema, Changtongya, Tuensang and Mon Town Councils.

The last date of withdrawal of candidature is January 17 while election were slated to be conducted on February 1.
The election process takes place in the backdrop of the apex bodies of tribal organisations - Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) opposing the government decision to conduct the civic polls with women's reservation while expressing apprehension that it would infringe upon the special rights guaranteed to the Naga people under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India.

However, as the movement gained momentum with tribal organisations giving a boycott call and also cautioning candidates from filing nominations, the two apex bodies left it to the tribal organisations to decide which would be the best step for their own community.