It is no secret that electoral tremors are being felt in Nagaland although no political party has openly started campaigning.
It has seen fresh violence in Khar village under Mokokchung District between the supporters of two intending candidates on 28 December afternoon where the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung has invoked Section 144 CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) prohibiting the assembly of more than five persons and/or carrying of lethal weapons and firearms including lathis, dagger/machete, spears, or any other sharp and dangerous weapon in the Khar Village jurisdiction.
It was reported that around 21 persons were injured, including 2 or 3 persons sustaining pellet injuries, while a dozen vehicles, houses and properties were damaged.
Consensus candidate
Meanwhile, the High Court and the district administrations has been cracking down on the practice of declaring “consensus candidate” among the villagers with the latest being Wokha deputy commissioner Ajit Kumar Ranjan stating that declaration of village/area/range consensus candidates by various organisations/village councils/range organisations for the forthcoming Nagaland assembly elections violates various election-related laws and offence under the Indian Penal Code.
It was only in the second week of December 2022, the Chungtia Senso Mungdang had ‘withdrawn/revoked’ a resolution passed on December 28, 2021 declaring one individual as its candidate for the forthcoming 2023 General Election following an order issued by the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench.
In another case, the Kohima Bench, on December 5, reportedly stayed a Decision/Resolution made by the Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden/Village Council on December 28, 2021 as well as announcements by the council on June 1 and October 19, 2022 “until further orders.” The Court also suspended, until further orders, the “Information/Announcement dated October 23, 2022 made by the Mongsenyimti Senso Mungdang,” and listed the matter for hearing after four weeks.
ENPO and Frontier Nagaland statehood demand
Meanwhile, in an emergency meeting held on January 3 at DUDA Guest House in Sovima, Chümoukedima, the seven tribal bodies of Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) has reiterated to abstain from participating in any election process of the state and the centre until and unless a separate statehood “Frontier Nagaland” is fulfilled as demanded by the people of Eastern Nagaland.
In this regard, Home Minister Amit Shah, coinciding with his Lok Sabha Pravaas program, is expected to reach Nagaland on January 6 as he embarks on a political tour across 11 States in January which is aimed at the next general elections. The home minister is expected to reach Manipur on Thursday morning. Reportedly, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit Nagaland on or after January 10.
CNTC to go in line with ENPO?
Meanwhile, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) in a press statement on Tuesday has vowed to boycott the State Assembly elections if the BJP-led Central government is unable to resolve the political problem facing Nagas.
Accusing the BJP-led government of breaking its 2018 vow, the council called out “its lack of eagerness or responsiveness” to resolve the Naga political issue and claimed that it has affected public opinion as the 2023 Assembly elections are about to be declared.
The council also accused the Centre of concentrating on the announcement of the Nagaland assembly election rather than delivering on its commitment to a resolution.
“If such things are done by the Centre, then CNTC will be left with no choice but to go in line with Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) for abstaining from the state assembly election,” the CNTC stated.
DGP appointment ‘bias’
Meanwhile, the resignation of Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) TJ Longkumer amid his service extension row has sparked allegations of ‘bias’ on the part of the Nagaland Government.
According to news outlet The Print, an IPS and an IAS officer told The Print that there has been “bias” on the part of the Nagaland government when appointing senior officers.
“[Longkumer] served in the position for four years and got an extension, which is technically wrong,” a senior Nagaland-cadre IAS officer was quoted by The Print, “But the government prefers Naga officers here.”
Complete ULB elections by Jan 2023?
Furthermore, the Supreme Court had on July 29 last year issued directions to the Nagaland State Election Commission to complete the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections and declare results for the same by the end of January 2023. This order came in relation to a civil appeal filed by the People Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) and others against the State of Nagaland in the country’s top court.
The appeal was filed challenging the Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s September 22, 2021 resolution exempting operation of Part IXA of the Constitution of India, which mandates 33% reservation for women, in Municipalities and Town Councils of the State.
The matter will be next heard for reporting compliance in the second week of February, 2023.
It may also be recalled that three municipal bodies including the Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation (DUCCF), Association of Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat (AKMWP) and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) have been staunchly standing against holding elections to the ULBs without “due rectification and amendment of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, wherever it infringed the Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution.”
These are just a few examples of what’s ticking in Nagaland politics. Notably, this year’s Nagaland Legislative Assembly election is scheduled for the latter week of February or the first week of March but the Election Commission of India is yet to declare the schedule.