Lotha Hoho demands withdrawal of ‘excommunicated’ candidate from ULB race

DIMAPUR — The Lotha Hoho, apex body of the Lotha tribe, has strongly condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allotting a ticket to Chenirao Jami Lotha, a man who was reportedly excommunicated from the community in 2016.

Jami Lotha is running for the Nagaland urban local body (ULB) elections from Bhandari town, Ward No. 3, as per a BJP notification dated June 8.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Lotha Hoho claimed that Jami Lotha was expelled for 15 years on July 9, 2016 due to his alleged involvement in a ‘security threat’ that targeted 25 Lotha intellectuals by the NSCN (IM).

“He is therefore officially not a bonafide Lotha Naga, and is therefore not eligible to hold any post of responsibility, as a Lotha Naga, unless he successfully completes the stipulated period of ex communication,” it said, adding that the reasons and circumstances leading to his excommunication is “documented in the Lotha Hoho Report of November 2014 to January 2019, vide pages 322 to 324”.

Furthermore, it said that since the Lotha Hoho is the apex and statutory Lotha tribal organisation, “the excommunication is legally binding under the provisions of Article 371 (A)”.

The Lotha Hoho has officially notified the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhandari on June 5 asking him “not to entertain the nomination of Chenirao Jami”, and the same has also been informed to the candidate and the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha.

It said that if Jami Lotha’s candidacy is not withdrawn, the Lotha Hoho would be forced to implement measures which include further excommunication of Jami Lotha as well as his family for three future generations from the Lotha community, and withdrawing its cooperation and support from the BJP.

Urging both Jami Lotha and the BJP to consider their options and comply with the terms of the 2016 excommunication, the the Hoho said that its follow-up actions would depend on the response of both parties.