The first phase of the training of polling personnel requisitioned for the conduct of the forthcoming by-election to the Nagaland parliamentary constituency slated for May 28 was held in Dimapur, Wokha, Phek and Tuensang districts on Tuesday.
In Dimapur, the training was conducted in Dimapur Government College.
Addressing the polling personnel, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Election Officer (DEO) Sushil Kumar Patel stated that postal ballot for the polling personnel have been discarded and election duty certificate (EDC) would be issued in its place to all employees requisitioned for polling duty. He, therefore, informed them to apply for EDC if he/she wishes to vote in person.
Patel said those, who are registered as voters in any one of the five Assembly constituencies under Dimapur district, should apply in Form 12A which will be issued during the training period.
He said the form should be attached with a copy of election duty appointment order, service identity card or EPIC and submit the same on May 21. The details of polling station where he or she will be posted on the day of poll need not be filled as it would be known only after the third round of randomization, the DEO added.
In Phek, the first phase of training for the presiding officers and first polling officers was held at the Government Higher Secondary School, Phek.
Altogether there are about 560 polling officials divided into ten groups and are being trained by the master trainers.
In Wokha, the first round of training for the polling personnel began at Government Higher Secondary School, Wokha.
The training for presiding officers and polling-I began on Monday while polling-II, polling-III, polling-IV (VVPAT) and Grade-IV will be conducted on Wednesday.
Briefing the polling personnel, Wokha Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Dr Manazir Jeelani Samoon appealed to them to perform their assigned responsibilities with utmost dedication and sincerity and give no room for error.
He also asked all the polling personnel to attend the training without fail and warned that disciplinary action would be initiated against the absentees.
In Tuensang, the training for polling personnel was held in the auditorium of Government Higher Secondary School, Tuensang.
The Tuensang DC, L Jamithung Lotha, exhorted the polling personnel to be more sincere and careful in performing their duties while warning that strict action will be taken against the absentees.
Meanwhile, Peren DC and DEO Smita Sarangi informed all the polling personnel that the first round of training in connection with the by-election will be held at the Government Higher Secondary School, Peren on May 17 and May 18 at 9.30 am. She directed all the polling personnel to attend the training else strict action would be taken against those who fail to attend.