Agartala, Feb 8: Assembly elections in Tripura are slated for Feb 14. Here are some details, according to the Election Commission:
Total seats: 60
Total voters: 2.3 million (male 1.19 million, female 1.15 million)
Total candidates: 249
Total women candidates: 15
Constituency with most candidates: Karbook, Surma, Karamcharra
Political parties: BJP, CPI, CPI-M, Congress, NCP, CPI-ML
Electronic Voting Machines: 3,772
Imphal: The Manipur cabinet has decided to approach the Election Commission to initiate action against Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for the "hate speech" he made against his counterpart Okram Ibobi Singh, a minister said here Saturday.
"We (Manipur cabinet) have taken serious note of the hate speech made by the Nagaland chief minister which could spark communal tension and have an adverse impact on inter-state relations," said Manipur Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh.
Okendro, also spokesperson of the Manipur government, said the cabinet, which met Friday evening, has decided to approach the Election Commission of India and the union home ministry seeking against action against the Nagaland chief minister as per the election code of conduct and sections of the Indian Penal Code.
"Manipur being a multi-community society, the cabinet was of the opinion that such irresponsible and provocative public statements should be avoided in the larger public interest," he told a news agency.
Rio should be held accountable if any untoward incident breaks out in Manipur as a result of the "hate speech", Okendro said.
On Feb 6, the Nagaland chief minister, who is seeking re-election from the Northern Angami- II Assembly Constituency, referred to Ibobi as "one of the biggest enemies of Naga people and responsible for the suppression of Nagas" during his election campaign for his party Naga People's Front (NPF) in Nagaland's Zunheboto district.
The NPF leader, who is confident of making a political hat-trick against a divided opposition Congress in the Feb 23 elections to the 60-member assembly, also termed the Congress leaders in Nagaland as not genuine and only agents of outsiders and representatives of the adversaries of the Naga people.
IANS
Kohima/Agartala: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred his visit to Nagaland and Tripura to campaign for the Congress in the assembly elections slated for February 23 and February 14 respectively.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president S I Jamir told PTI that the proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Kohima has been deferred but could not confirm the date of his next visit.
Congress sources here also said that the proposed visit of All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice president Rahul Gandhi to Mon and Tuensang districts of the state on February 14 has also not been confirmed as of date.
NPCC which has been in the opposition for the last one decade is trying hard to woo the electorate by bringing in several central leaders.
AICC president Sonia Gandhi visited the state yesterday to campaign for the Congress in Mokokchung and Dimapur districts asserting that once brought to power her party would work towards settlement of the Naga political problem at the earliest.
She accused the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) led Democratic Alliance of misgovernance and siphoning of huge amount of central funds for the development of the state.
Meanwhile, a report from Tripura also said the Prime Minister had deferred his visit scheduled for tomorrow to the state.
State Congress sources said the visit had been deferred due to the PM's other preoccupations. Assembly polls will be held in Tripura on February 14.
PTI
Kohima: A total of 189 nominations for Nagaland Assembly polls have been found valid after scrutiny, while 42 nominations which include stand-by candidates and some independents have been rejected, official sources said.
Out of the 189 nominees, only two are women candidates. While Rakhila is being set up by BJP in Tuensang Sadar-II against Elam Chang of NPF and sitting MLA P Chuba Chang of Congress, Dr Yangerla is fighting as independent candidate from Mokokchung Town against sitting MLA Apok Jamir of Congress and NPF candidate Rosemtong. The political parties in fray are ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), opposition Congress, BJP, NCP, RJD, JD(U), SP, United Nagaland Democratic Party and a sizable number of independents.
Candidature of political parties have not been rejected, sources said.
The final figure of the contending candidates would be notified by tomorrow evening after the end of the withdrawal period, they said.
Polls for the sixty seats of the assembly would be held on February 23.
PTI
Shillong: Assam government on Saturday said it is lending full cooperation to neighbouring Meghalaya especially in the disputed areas along the inter-state border as the state goes to polls on February 23, officials said.
"Assam has assured its full-cooperation for free and fair conduct of the elections especially in the border areas," state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Naik told reporters after the joint meeting with Assam counterpart held in the capital today.
The meeting was attended by officials of Assam and Meghalaya government including Chief Electoral Officers, principal secretaries of Home besides top police officials.
Naik said the issue pertaining to maintenance of law and order for the upcoming 2013 Assembly elections, was dwelt at length during the meeting.
"Both the states discussed about the general maintenance of law and order in the border areas," he said.
There are 138 polling stations along the one kilometer radius of the inter-state borders out of which certain polling stations are declared sensitive and hyper-sensitive.
According to Naik, there are some polling stations where polling officials will have to reach through Assam and both the states have extended their cooperation in this regard.
"We also discussed on the requirement of transportation of troops for the election," he said.
PTI
Itanagar: East Siang Police have arrested two persons, including the prime accused in trafficking and rape of a minor girl missing since January 26.
The arrest was made on Wednesday, a couple of days after agitating women's organizations staged demonstration in front of the local police station demanding the police to immediately nab the alleged rapist and not to release the minor?s trafficker on bail.
Pasighat police station OC D Yosung informed today that the main accused Okep Jamoh and one Senorita Tayeng have been arrested on Wednesday evening.
The 13-year-old girl, a Class-V student of Jarku village school, was found three days after she went missing on Janury 26.
She was allegedly trafficked by one Kine Mitkong (already arrested on January 30), who had forced the minor to have physical relationship with the 62-year-old Okep Jamoh, in exchange of money.
Meanwhile, the agitating women's organizations has lauded the police for arresting the prime accused in the heinous crime.
PTI
New Delhi, Feb. 8 (ANI): A team of 25 students from remote areas of Manipur, presently on a ''National Integration Tour'' being conducted by Assam Riffles to promote harmony and awareness, called on Minister of State for Home R P N Singh here today.
Welcoming the students, Singh said that this would help them in understanding this vast country.
He also said that by such tours these children will learn how our country is moving forward with diversity. Singh hoped that these children will become ambassadors of change in the society.
The tour is aimed at enhancing and integrating the youth to the nation and promoting concept of unity in diversity. These students are also visiting other historical places in Delhi along with Dehradun, Mussourie and some other cities. (ANI)
New Delhi, Feb. 8 (ANI): A group of 25 students from Manipur and 21 lady teachers form Jammu and Kashmir called on President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here today.
The students from Manipur are in the national capital as part of national integration tour organized by the Assam Rifles and the teachers from Kashmir are in Delhi as part of Operation Sadbhavana organized by the Signal Corps of Indian Army.
Addressing the students from Manipur, President Mukherjee said Manipur is one of the most beautiful states of India. Its people are known for their graciousness and gentle nature. He congratulated Assam Rifles, one of the oldest security forces, for organizing the national integration tour for students.
Addressing the teachers from Kashmir Valley, President Mukherjee said Kashmir was known as the Sharda Peeth, a ''Seat of Learning'' in ancient times. Its doors were open to scholars from every corner of the world who came in pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.
He congratulated the Signal Corps of Indian Army for organizing the Sadbhavana tour and focusing especially on women teachers. (ANI)
