Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, Vyasan R., IAS and Commissioner Nagaland & Returning Officer, Sushil Kumar, IAS conducted a joint press conference after the counting of votes for 1- Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency to the 18th Lok Sabha Election 2024 at AWO Ki, D- Block, Kohima on 4th June 2024.

At the press event, Sushil Kumar, IAS informed that, out of 60 assembly constituencies, people voted for 40 assembly constituencies in Nagaland. Kumar stated that all together, the total valid votes cast was 7,59,150 and out of which the winning candidate, S. Supongmeren Jamir of INC got a total of 4,01,951 votes and Dr. Chumben Murry of NDPP got 350,967 votes. Independent candidate, Hayithung Tungoe Lotha got 6,230 votes. He added that there were 1,646 votes under NOTA while 2,392 votes were rejected.

Also highlighting the postal ballot votes, Kumar said out of 6,035 postal ballot votes cast by polling officers on duty and service votes, 3,642 were valid votes while 2,393 were invalid votes.

When asked why there were so many invalid votes, the RO informed that a postal ballot vote is rejected if the declaration is missing or invalid and if a person does not select any option or if the scanner does not scan the voting slip.

He also assured that EVM cannot be tampered with.

Further, Kumar said that all counting of votes were done at district headquarters including Pughoboto and postal ballot votes were counted at the Commissioner Nagaland’s office, Kohima. The RO also stated that counting of votes in the districts in Eastern Nagaland had concluded by 12:30 pm.