Mokokchung has a longstanding tradition of nominating minority members to its Town Committee, now the Municipal Council. This practice is currently under scrutiny following the enactment of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023, which empowers the state government to nominate members to municipal councils.
Earlier this year, ahead of the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, Kughavi Assumi, Chairman of Sumi Hoho, Mokokchung, and Among Yimkhiung, President of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Union Mokokchung (ENPUM), sought the blessing of Ao Senden to forward nominations to the State Government. They aimed to continue the tradition of nominating members to the Municipal Council from their minority communities.
Citing their communities’ integral role in Mokokchung’s development since the establishment of “Mokokchung Elakha” by the British in the “18th century,” they noted that many Sumi from different parts of Nagaland, and the Eastern Naga People, migrated to “Mokokchung Elakha” from the then Tuensang Frontier Division, known as the Naga Tribal Area, from which the present Nagaland State was created in 1962. “However, like the partition of India and Pakistan, many Sumi and Eastern Naga People continued to reside in Mokokchung Town in Mokokchung District till date as indigenous Nagas,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Ao Senden deliberated on the matter and decided not to forward the request to the State Government as requested by Sumi Hoho, Mokokchung, and ENPUM. This resolution is reported to have been communicated to Sumi Hoho, Mokokchung, ENPUM, and the Gorkha Union Mokokchung.
According to the NMA 2023, the state government can nominate up to one-fifth of the elected Municipal Council members. This can be interpreted as four nominees to the MMC, which has 18 elected members. As per the Act, the nominees are to possess specialized knowledge or experience in municipal administration.
Additionally, under the NMA 2023, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Nagaland, as well as members of the Nagaland state legislative assembly constituencies wholly or partly comprising the Municipal Council area, shall serve as ex officio members. Thus, the ex officio members of MMC in this case would include Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir, Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak, Angetyongpang AC MLA Tongpang Ozukum, Mongoya AC MLA Imkongmar, Aonglenden AC MLA Sharingain Longkumer, Mokokchung Town AC MLA and minister Metsubo Jamir, and Koridang AC MLA Imkong L Imchen.