33% women reservation: Medziphema Village Council reiterates resolution to ban town council election

Dimapur, Dec. 27: Following the State Government’s notification for conduct of town committee elections on February 1, 2017, the Medziphema Village Council once again reiterated its earlier resolution to ban town council election in Medziphema town with the provision for 33% reservation for women.

Maintaining that the incorporation of women reservation in Naga public institutions is totally against the traditional and social practices of the Nagas, the village council said it decided not to allow the conduct of town committee election on its soil with women reservation.
“The government is expected to listen to the wishes of the people but instead, it had decided to overrule the wishes and expectations of the people by notifying the date of the elections,” chairman of the council Neikhonyo Kuotsu and secretary Khriengulie Kapo said in a release on tuesday. Therefore, they asserted, in tune with its earlier resolution, the Medziphema Village Council shall not allow the conduct of town council elections in Medziphema town unless the provision for women reservation is deleted.

In this regard, the council has asked all interested intending candidates not to file nominations for Medziphema Town Council elections. If any individual files nomination for the same in contravention to die village council resolution, he/she should also be ready to bear the consequence, it warned. Also, making clear to one and all that it is not against the conduct of town council elections, the Medziphema Village Council said it is against the reservation of women in it.

The council further stated that the decision not to allow the conduct of Medziphema Town Council elections with women reservation is taken in the interest of Naga customary and traditional practices and the special position of the Nagas under the Indian Constitution.