The office of the Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday said that a total of 225 candidates have filed their nominations for the Nagaland Assembly elections scheduled to take place on February 27. The last date for submitting nomination papers to the respective returning officers of the 16 constituencies in 16 districts of the northeastern state was Tuesday, February 7, reported news agency PTI.


A total of 101 nominees belonging to various political parties as well as independent candidates filed their nominations.


The nominations that were filed from the 60 constituencies will be scrutinised thoroughly on Wednesday. The last date to withdraw the candidature is February 10, reported PTI.


Mon received the most nominations—39—for nine seats, followed by Mokokchung with 32 for ten, and Kohima and Phek with 19 each for six and five seats respectively.


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The NDPP has nominated Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to run for the Northern Angami-II seat in the Kohima district.


Additionally, former chief minister TR Zeliang (NDPP), BJP state president Temjen Imna Along, and deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton (BJP) were among the candidates who filed their nomination papers on Monday.


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Polling is scheduled to take place on February 27 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the votes will be tallied on March 2.


The scrutiny of candidates will take place today and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is 10th February. Polling will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will be done on March 2. 


Ahead of the elections, different enforcement agencies seized cash, drugs, and liquor with a total valuation of over Rs 28 crores till February 3, 2023. Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland while talking to ANI said, "Cash, liquor, drugs & narcotics and contraband items and freebies worth over Rs 28 crores have been seized till 3rd February by the various enforcement agencies."


(With inputs from PTI)