The State Election Commission (SEC), Nagaland has today requested the ENPO to reconsider its stance of asking citizens to abstain from participating in the ongoing ULB elections.

While the Commission is cognizant of the stated context of the issue surrounding the ENPO’s stand, it was of the view that the method adopted to express their stand on collective abstention from participating in the ULB election needs a reasoned reconsideration.

“Firstly, it is a constitutional right for every eligible citizen to vote. Conversely, the option of not to vote is an understood extension of the right. This right however needs to be understood in the light of individual freedom and choice. Voting per se is singular, based on the principle of one person one vote; it is not a collective instrument. Therefore, it is a settled principle that an individual voter enjoys the freedom of conscience to exercise this right without any external or undue influence from any individual or organization,” stated the SEC.

With the matter of ULB elections in the State of Nagaland under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India with notice of contempt issued to several entities in the State, the SEC stated that any attempt to disturb or disrupt the electoral process by any individual or organization in violation of the court orders would potentially have serious legal ramifications.

The SEC also expressed that the constitution of Urban Local Bodies like the Municipal and Town Councils in Nagaland through the participation of the local community in the electoral process is an essential requirement for incorporating the common aspirations and grievances of the local populace as is reflected in the development and progress of the municipalities. “The process is as much important as and an integral part of the outcomes,” stated the SEC.

With its commitment to holding free and fair elections to all the Municipal and Town Councils in the State as already notified on 29th April 2024, the Commission hoped that through these elections, the people in the municipality areas would be able to freely and willingly participate in exercising the constitutional right to vote and/or to contest as is deemed necessary to discharge the vital functions of local self-governance.

In this regard, the Commission requested the ENPO to reconsider its stance of asking citizens to abstain from participating in the ongoing ULB elections. “Meanwhile, the Commission will ensure that all polling processes shall continue as per the election scheduled,” it stated.

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