Chumoukedima, Nagaland, June 26 (HBTV): Voting to Nagaland’s three municipalities and 36 town councils in 20 years has begun on June 26. This is also for the first time that the urban body elections are being conducted with the 33% reservation for women in place.   

The last time that the municipal elections were conducted was in 2004 which followed tumultuous years of conflict and dispute surrounding the inclusion of reservation for women. The conflict led to the violence in 2017 when two youths were killed in Diphupar in Dimapur district then when villagers attacked the residence of the then chief minister of Nagaland, and current deputy chief minister TR Zeliang.        

This time too, the eastern districts of the state have abstained in yet another election.   

There are a total of 523 candidates contesting in the elections. There are 325 men and 198 women in the fray.  

At airtime, Dimapur had begun voting in an event that was generally expected to be peaceful. However, enforcement actions have already begun if reports of untoward events are to be considered. For instance, on the eve of the election, the Dimapur police had arrested approximately 21 youths from the campus of a college in the city. According to updates, the police arrested the youths from Landmark colony, Cornerstone College in landmark colony of Ward-13 for violation of Section 144 CRPC. The youths were taken to West Police Station.   

Likewise, unconfirmed reports said police opened fire at a polling station in Mokokchung. According to the reports, the police opened fire at about 5:12 am near a polling booth in Arkong ward of Mokokchung. Again, these are unconfirmed reports and there has yet to be an official statement.    

Earlier, workers on election duty in Kohima cast their votes for the Kohima Municipal Council at the District Customary Court in Kohima on June 24. A total of 103 postal ballots were issued, out of which 101 votes were cast, updates said.