GUWAHATI: Not one of over four lakh voters in eastern Nagaland turned up in elections to the state’s lone Lok Sabha seat on Friday following a boycott and shutdown call by Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) over the Centre’s “failure” to fulfil its long-standing demand to create a separate zone with greater autonomy.
The 20 MLAs of the region, comprising six districts, also did not vote.The EC website showed zero turnout in the 20 assembly segments till 8pm. The six districts make up over 30% of the state’s 13.25 lakh voters.
CM Neiphiu Rio indicated that he did not want “any confrontation”. “ENPO had issued a strict order. Let us see what will happen,” Rio said after casting his vote. The CM warned, however, of “appropriate action as per law against those who prevented people from exercising their democratic right”. “The EC has already issued a show-cause notice to ENPO over the shutdown call,” Rio said.
The 20 MLAs of the region, comprising six districts, also did not vote.The EC website showed zero turnout in the 20 assembly segments till 8pm. The six districts make up over 30% of the state’s 13.25 lakh voters.
CM Neiphiu Rio indicated that he did not want “any confrontation”. “ENPO had issued a strict order. Let us see what will happen,” Rio said after casting his vote. The CM warned, however, of “appropriate action as per law against those who prevented people from exercising their democratic right”. “The EC has already issued a show-cause notice to ENPO over the shutdown call,” Rio said.