A three-tier security ring is in place for the much-delayed urban local body (ULB) elections in Nagaland to be held on Wednesday.

The polls will see several firsts – the first ULB to be held since 2004, the first to be held with 33 per cent reservation for women and the first without any participation from Eastern Nagaland.

According to the police, there are over 200 sensitive and 229 hyper-sensitive polling stations, prompting the deployment of both armed police personnel with a special focus on eight of the ten districts where polls will be held. Altogether 108 companies of security personnel have been deployed to maintain order. Nagaland has 16 districts.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been promulgated in several areas, including Dimapur, Chumoukedima and Niuland, for the smooth conduction of the polls. The entry to polling stations has been regulated to ensure order. Voting will start at 7.30am and end at 4pm.

All candidates from the six districts that come under Eastern Nagaland withdrew from the race following a collective decision to abstain from any state or central elections till their demand for a Frontier Nagaland Territory is met.

Elections were scheduled for three municipal and 36 town councils but now polls will be held for three municipal and 22 town councils following the withdrawal of candidates from Eastern Nagaland. This will be the second time that people from the region will be abstaining from voting/contesting since the April 19 Lok Sabha polls.

According to the Nagaland State Election Commission conducting the ULB polls, female voters (1,13,521) outnumber male voters (1,10,115). The total electors stand at 2,23,636. They will decide the fate of 523 candidates of whom 198 are females.

Already 64 candidates have won uncontested with NDPP leading the tally with 45 followed by the BJP seven, the NCP five and the Congress three.