Earlier this week at a programme in Jalukie, T.R. Zeliang clarified to the gathered that his party symbol was not the ‘cock’ anymore. He told them that his party is now Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and hence the symbol is the ‘globe’.
The 2023 elections to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly will see contests between 12 political parties and 19 Independent candidates, a record number of participation of parties in the history of Nagaland elections.
With record number of parties comes record number of party symbols for the voters to remember, mainly inside the voting compartment. Further, the candidates shifting parties, for some even days before nomination, have added to the confusion not just in one constituency but the whole state, rural and urban.
Hence the clarification from Zeliang who until recently had been flying the flag of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) with the ‘cock’.
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This time around in the 7 Peren Assembly Constituency, there are three contestants. While Zeliang’s symbol is NDPP’s ‘globe’, his opponents and first timers Kingudi Joseph and K. Kengim Kulimbe are contesting as NPF ‘cock’ and Independent ‘walking stick’ candidates respectively.
The 2018 election at the constituency was contested between rivals and now friends, T.R Zeliang (NPF) and Iherie Ndang (NDPP).
At 6 Tening Assembly Constituency, six candidates are vying for the seat, four of them new.
Namri Nchang, the sitting MLA, who contested as an NDPP candidate in the 2018 election the candidate of National Congress Party (Alarm clock) in this election. Whereas Tarie Zeliang, who had previously challenged Nchang in the 2018 election as an Independent candidate, got NDPP ticket for the 2023 election.
The new faces at Tening constituency include Rosy Thomson from Indian National Congress ‘hand’, Henry Zeliang from NPF, Zandi Domta from National People’s Party (book) and Dr. Thumda Newme, Independent candidate (torch light).
New candidates, new parties, new symbols, topped by the switching of parties is confusing to the public, not necessarily just villagers but also the educated lot in urban areas.
Read more: Nagaland polls: Under developed new HQ main concern in 7 Peren A/C, road conditions in 6 Tening A/C
Nagaland Assembly election: 184 candidates from 13 political parties in the final list
In earlier elections, when the mass was illiterate, the voters did not care for the political party names but only focussed on the candidates and their symbols. This trend has not changed much.
We asked some random people from Peren town and Tening the names of candidates from their constituencies, which party they belong to and what their symbols were.
While 6 out of 10 people from 7 Peren constituency could get the answers correct, the knowledge of Tening constituents was vastly poor especially because there are 6 candidates. Most of them were confused about the symbols and some even complained that they lacked knowledge because candidates had not approached them.
Election campaigns for the Nagaland General Election 2023 will end at 4:00 pm on Saturday.
During the 48 hours before the polling, no election related public meetings or processions can take place, display of election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus is prohibited, organising musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public is also prohibited.
On the polling day, inside the secret polling compartment, it is up to the voters to be mindful and vigilant so that they cast their votes correctly to the candidate who they wish to elect as their representative.
