ENLU to participate in Assembly elections 2023

The Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union (ENLU) has resolved to contest in the upcoming Assembly election amidst the firm stand of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) to abstain from the electoral process until its demand of separate state is fulfilled.

The Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union convenor, S Pangnyu Phom, and secretary general, CL John, had told Eastern Mirror on Jan. 21 that the Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union (ENLU) legislators were yet to decide on what should be done with regard to abstaining from participating the NLA election as per the directive of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation(ENPO) ; and that the final decision of the Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union(ENLU) would depend on the government of India’s response to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation.

They had also informed that the Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union (ENLU) was slated to meet on Sunday (Jan.22) for discussion, although the final outcome may not be taken at the meeting.

However, a statement issued by Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union(ENLU) on Sunday said that in the emergency meeting, it “resolved to participate in the upcoming general election 2023 since the election has been notified by the Election Commission of India on Jan.18 2023”.

The meeting attendance was duly signed by the 20 ENLU legislators.

The decision comes close on the heels of eastern tribal bodies resolving not to participate in the Assembly election and also warning its members to be excommunicated from the community for those filing their nominations.

An apex tribal body leader lamented that the Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union could have made this declaration after the final agreement between the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation and Government of India (GoI), which is expected before January 30.

It may be mentioned that the ENPO emergency Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting, which was scheduled to be held on Jan. 24 in Tuensang district to discuss the present pressing issues, was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

However on Jan.23, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) through a circular informed that the emergency joint consultative meeting with the seven tribal bodies, Eastern Naga Students’ Federation, Eastern Naga Women’s Organisation and talk team would be held on January 25 in Dimapur.   

The president along with a member each from the seven tribal bodies and frontal organisations were informed to attend the meeting without fail. The timing and venue of the meeting were not disclosed.

The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) team who were in Delhi to meet the central leaders reportedly returned to Nagaland on Sunday (Jan.22).

Neither the Eastern Nagaland Legislator’s Union members nor Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) leaders responded to calls when contacted by this newspaper till the time of filing of this report.

Also read: Nagaland Election 2023: Model Code of Conduct comes into force

2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election