VVPAT to be used in Nagaland assembly bypoll tomorrow

For the first time in the country, a high-tech voter recording system (VVPAT) will be used along with EVMs during the bye-election to Noksen assembly constituency in Nagaland tomorrow.
Polling personnel and interested voters were yesterday trained to operate the high-tech 'Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail' system, according to Tuensang Deputy Commission and District Returning Officer, Mhumbemo Lotha.
Security has been beefed up for the bypoll. Four additional companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the constituency in addition to Indian Reserve Battalion and Nagaland Armed Police personnel, he said.
The bypoll is a straight contest between the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate C M Chang, also the state education minister, and Congress nominee Lima Onen Chang.

C M Chang is being supported by alliance partners in Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) comprising BJP and JD(U) along with the external support of NCP and Independent MLAs.
A total of 12,074 voters were expected to exercise their franchise in 21 polling stations spread over 19 villages in Noksen constituency.

One general observer, an expenditure observer and six micro observers have been deployed for the bypoll, he said.
The seat was left vacant soon after February 2013 assembly election when C M Chang, who had won the seat on a NPF ticket, decided to quit the house on March 14.

Chang had then said that he had decided to give up his assembly seat to remain a Lok Sabha MP till a bypoll was held for the constituency to avoid parliamentary bypoll in the state.