KOHIMA, Feb 22 — For the first time in Nagaland, women employees would be deployed as presiding and polling officers for the February 26 Assembly election, reports PTI.
Chief Electoral Officer Lalthara hoped that deployment of women officials for poll duty would check the practice of proxy voting in the state as they have been found more serious in their workplaces than their male counterpart in Nagaland. They would work in polling stations of urban areas like Kohima and Dimapur.
Although Naga women take leading role in both domestic chores and socio-cultural activities in the society, only three women candidates are contesting the election for the Assembly which is yet to elect a single woman since the formation of the state in 1963.
Padmashree Chubala Ao, wife of first Chief Minister the late Shilu Ao, has been pitted by Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) against Chief Minister S C Jamir (Congress) in the Aonglenden assembly segment in Mokokchung district. Two other women are contesting as independent candidates from Dimapur III and Ghaspaniai constituencies.
However, Rano Sheiza represented Nagaland in Lok Sabha after the 1977 general elections. She had defeated Congress candidate and former Chief Minister Hgkishe Sema as United Democratic Front candidate.