Eastern Nagaland organisations double down on abstaining from election

TUENSANG — Tribal bodies and frontal organisations led by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) doubled down on their resolve to abstain from participating in any central or state election, following as public meeting at CKS Hall in Tuensang on Tuesday.

Although the ENPO had asked the 20 legislators from the eastern region as well as the Rajya Sabha MP to prioritise attending the meeting, none of the elected representatives showed up for the crucial public meeting.

According to sources, the ENPO did not receive any prior notification that the legislators, who make up the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), would not attend the public meeting, which was convened to discuss the government of India’s delay in settling its offer to create a Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), before the election Model Code of Conduct comes in to effect, as assured by the Union Home Minister on Dec. 7, 2023.

During the meeting, the organisations which include the apex tribal and student bodies of the six eastern districts, resolved to unanimously stand by the Chen Moho Resolution of February 23, 2024 which is to refrain from participating in any state or central elections.

The house endorsed the ENPO to come up with strategies to implement the resolution.

It was also resolved that the ENPO would write to the Ministry of Home Affairs asking it, “not to entertain any write-up/suggestions with regard to Frontier Nagaland Territory,” from sources other than the ENPO.

Among others, the house also resolved to temporarily suspend all forms of ongoing restrictions under the ongoing ‘Eastern Nagaland Public Emergency,’ starting March 21.

“However, the Eastern Nagaland Public Emergency shall continue to be in force until further notice,” it said.

Further, the house endorsed the ENPO to convene another public meeting in Tuensang, with all the 20 ENLU members within a week.

It may be recalled that the ENLU members has sought postponement of Tuesday’s meeting to a later date, stating that they were camped in Delhi to meet the Union Home Minister and officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

However, the ENPO refused to reschedule the meeting on grounds that the Election Code of Conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha election had already been enforced and as such, meeting the central leaders would be futile.

In Delhi, the ENLU is said to have held talks with the interlocutor, AK Mishra and other MHA officials, and is reportedly waiting to meet the home minister.

Also read: Shut down in Tuensang for crucial ENPO meeting; ENLU still in New Delhi