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The incumbent legislators from eastern districts of Nagaland seem to be as confused as the first-time intending candidates about contesting the upcoming state Assembly election with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) sticking to its decision to not participate in any electoral process till the government of India fulfils their demand for a separate state.
The Eastern Nagaland Legislature Union (ENLU), comprising 20 elected legislators from the eastern region, is yet to share its stand on the ENPO’s directive not to conduct any kind of election campaign or declaration of candidature.
Eastern Mirror spoke to a couple of ENLU members on Saturday to know their take on the matter with the Election Commission having fixed February 27 for general election to the 14th state legislative assembly.
Minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, who is also the convenor of ENLU, told this newspaper that the legislators from eastern districts have not decided on whether or not to take part in the election.
“We cannot decide on our own and as an individual; we have not yet met to discuss this issue,” he said while informing that the ENLU is slated to meet on Sunday (Jan. 22) to discuss the matter though the final decision is unlikely to be taken at the meeting.
ENLU Secretary General and Advisor of Land Resource, CL John, told this newspaper that the final decision of the ENLU will depend on the government of India’s response to the ENPO, who are currently in Delhi to meet the Central leaders.
“The ENPO team is in Delhi and they will be returning next week. So the decision of ENLU will depend on the outcome of GoI and ENPO’s meeting,” said the legislator. However, he did not comment on whether the 20 legislators will take part in the upcoming NLA election.
While confirming the members of ENLU will be meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue, John maintained that the house may not take the final call as they have to wait for the GoI’s response to the pressing demand of ENPO for “Frontier Nagaland”.
Out of the 20 elected legislators from the eastern districts, four -- S Pangnyu Phom, P Paiwang Konyak, V Kashiho Sangtam and YM Yollow Konyak -- are cabinet ministers, T Yangseo Sangtam is the deputy speaker of NLA and eight others namely Noke Wangnao, Phowang Konyak, L Khumo Khiamniungan, Bongkhao Konyak, H Haiying, H Chuba Chang, S Keoshu Yimchunger and CL John are advisors..
Meanwhile, ENPO has convened an emergency CEC meeting on January 24 (Tuesday) at CKS Hall in Tuensang headquarters from 10 am “to discuss the present pressing issues”.
Respective CEC members including ENPO advisors, talk team, at least five members each from frontal organisations, federating unit president and secretary from the respective frontal organisations, and presidents of all sub-units have been asked to attend the meeting.