Voting is underway for 25 municipal bodies in Nagaland's Kohima on Wednesday morning amid tight security arrangements. An SEC official gave this information.
It was a historic election in the northeastern state as voting was taking place for three municipalities and 22 city councils after a gap of 20 years.
Nagaland State Election Commission official said the urban local body elections are being held for the first time with 33 per cent women reservation.
The government had earlier announced elections to urban local bodies several times, but the elections could not be held due to objections from tribal bodies and civil society organizations against reservations for women and taxes on land and properties.
Voting started at 7.30 am and will continue till 4 pm.
"Polling has been peaceful so far. Security has been beefed up for the elections," SEC officials said.
Over 2.23 lakh voters, including 1,13,521 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 523 candidates from 11 political parties.
He said that voting is being conducted through ballot papers instead of EVMs at 420 polling stations.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) has decided that six districts of the region will not participate in the elections.
ENPO, the apex body of seven Naga tribes living in six eastern districts, is demanding 'Frontier Nagaland Area' claiming that the region has been neglected for years.
There are 14 municipal councils in the ENPO region. At least 59 nominations were accepted from the area but tribal bodies forced the candidates to withdraw their nominations.
ENPO also refrained from contesting the April 19 Lok Sabha elections for the lone seat in the state.
It was a historic election in the northeastern state as voting was taking place for three municipalities and 22 city councils after a gap of 20 years.
Nagaland State Election Commission official said the urban local body elections are being held for the first time with 33 per cent women reservation.
The government had earlier announced elections to urban local bodies several times, but the elections could not be held due to objections from tribal bodies and civil society organizations against reservations for women and taxes on land and properties.
Voting started at 7.30 am and will continue till 4 pm.
"Polling has been peaceful so far. Security has been beefed up for the elections," SEC officials said.
Over 2.23 lakh voters, including 1,13,521 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 523 candidates from 11 political parties.
He said that voting is being conducted through ballot papers instead of EVMs at 420 polling stations.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) has decided that six districts of the region will not participate in the elections.
ENPO, the apex body of seven Naga tribes living in six eastern districts, is demanding 'Frontier Nagaland Area' claiming that the region has been neglected for years.
There are 14 municipal councils in the ENPO region. At least 59 nominations were accepted from the area but tribal bodies forced the candidates to withdraw their nominations.
ENPO also refrained from contesting the April 19 Lok Sabha elections for the lone seat in the state.
