Northeast Desk, 26th June: Today, Nagaland is witnessing a historic Urban Local Bodies (ULB) election with a notable 42.04% voter turnout recorded by 12:30 PM.
This election marks a significant milestone as the first-ever municipal poll in Nagaland to implement 33% reservation for women, contrasting with the 2004 ULB election held without such provisions.
Across 420 polling stations covering 214 wards, including three municipalities and 21 town councils, 523 candidates are competing for office. Among them, the youngest contender, a 22-year-old woman from Bhandari Ward-1, and the oldest, an 81-year-old man from Chozuba Ward-5, underscore the diversity in candidacy.
Earlier, 64 candidates were elected unopposed. Voter identification is facilitated by acceptance of government-issued documents like Aadhaar, PAN card, and driving licenses, according to the State Election Commission.
Meanwhile, the Labour Commissioner of Nagaland has declared June 26 a paid holiday for workers in commercial and industrial sectors to facilitate their participation in the ongoing ULB elections. The directive mandates employers to remunerate employees with wages equivalent to their daily average earnings, prohibiting any deductions.
With preparations underway, this electoral event assumes significance in shaping local governance across Nagaland’s municipalities and town councils.
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