<p>Around 67.92 per cent of total 43,242 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in by- elections to two Assembly seats in Nagaland on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol, election officials said.</p>.<p>Southern Angami-1 seat in Kohima district recorded 57.1 per cent polling, while 78.75 per cent of voters have cast their ballots in Pungro Kiphire constituency in Kiphire district. Polling began at 6 am in both the seats, they said, adding no untoward incident has been reported so far.</p>.<p>The fates of eight candidates in the two seats will be sealed in EVMs by 4 pm.</p>.<p>Adequate security personnel have been deployed and Covid-19 safety measures are in place for smooth conduct of the by-elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said.</p>.<p>The by-elections to Southern Angami-1 and Pungro Kiphire seats were necessitated following the deaths of the then Assembly speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu and T Torechu of the Naga People's Front respectively.</p>.<p>A total of 13,641 people are eligible to cast their votes in 22 polling stations in Southern Angami-1 and 29,601 people can vote in 23 polling booths in Pungro Kiphire, Sinha said.</p>.<p>More than 50 per cent of the polling stations in Southern Angami-1 and 40 per cent in Pungro-Kiphire have been identified as critical and vulnerable, he said.</p>.<p>Webcast and static video recordings are being conducted in all the polling booths to ensure free and fair elections, the CEO said.</p>.<p>Measures such as thermal screening, providing masks, sanitisers and hand gloves to voters and demarcating polling areas to ensure social distancing have been undertaken, officials said.</p>.<p>Ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) nominee Medo Yhokha, opposition NPF's Kikovi Kirha and Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo are in the electoral race for the Southern Angami-1 seat.</p>.<p>Five nominees, including Khaseo Anar of the Congress, BJP's Lirimong Sangtam and Independent candidates K Shellumthong, T Yangseo Sangtam and Kiusumew Yimchunger are in the fray for the Pungro-Kiphire seat.</p>.<p>An extra hour has been given to provide enough time to the voters as all the Covid-19 SOPs have to be followed, Sinha said. </p>
<p>Around 67.92 per cent of total 43,242 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in by- elections to two Assembly seats in Nagaland on Tuesday amidst tight security and strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol, election officials said.</p>.<p>Southern Angami-1 seat in Kohima district recorded 57.1 per cent polling, while 78.75 per cent of voters have cast their ballots in Pungro Kiphire constituency in Kiphire district. Polling began at 6 am in both the seats, they said, adding no untoward incident has been reported so far.</p>.<p>The fates of eight candidates in the two seats will be sealed in EVMs by 4 pm.</p>.<p>Adequate security personnel have been deployed and Covid-19 safety measures are in place for smooth conduct of the by-elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said.</p>.<p>The by-elections to Southern Angami-1 and Pungro Kiphire seats were necessitated following the deaths of the then Assembly speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu and T Torechu of the Naga People's Front respectively.</p>.<p>A total of 13,641 people are eligible to cast their votes in 22 polling stations in Southern Angami-1 and 29,601 people can vote in 23 polling booths in Pungro Kiphire, Sinha said.</p>.<p>More than 50 per cent of the polling stations in Southern Angami-1 and 40 per cent in Pungro-Kiphire have been identified as critical and vulnerable, he said.</p>.<p>Webcast and static video recordings are being conducted in all the polling booths to ensure free and fair elections, the CEO said.</p>.<p>Measures such as thermal screening, providing masks, sanitisers and hand gloves to voters and demarcating polling areas to ensure social distancing have been undertaken, officials said.</p>.<p>Ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) nominee Medo Yhokha, opposition NPF's Kikovi Kirha and Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo are in the electoral race for the Southern Angami-1 seat.</p>.<p>Five nominees, including Khaseo Anar of the Congress, BJP's Lirimong Sangtam and Independent candidates K Shellumthong, T Yangseo Sangtam and Kiusumew Yimchunger are in the fray for the Pungro-Kiphire seat.</p>.<p>An extra hour has been given to provide enough time to the voters as all the Covid-19 SOPs have to be followed, Sinha said. </p>