ENPO, political party workers to meet on Saturday

DIMAPUR — The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and leaders of various political parties from the eastern region will hold a ‘joint coordination meeting’ in Mon town on Saturday.

The house is expected to deliberate matters related to the ENPO’s decision to abstain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha election in protest against the Centre’s failure to create Frontier Nagaland Territory.

The Konyak and Phom communities are celebrating the last day of Aoleang and Monyu festivals respectively but the meeting will be held as per schedule, sources said.

The meeting was convened by the ENPO after the state Cabinet, led by the chief minister, held discussions with the Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Association (ENGOA), and tasked the association with the responsibility of persuading the ENPO to participate in the electoral process.

According to a political party worker from eastern Nagaland, the “continued conflict and deaf ear” towards the demand of the ENPO has left the organisation feeling helpless. This, he said, pushed them to express their dissatisfaction with the government of India and its leadership.

“This affirmation to abstain from participating in the electoral process is an expression of conflict,” said a party worker who is said to be setting off from Kohima to attend the meeting in Mon.

It may be mentioned that the ENPO had earlier declared non-participation in the electoral process, including the 2018 general election and the 2023 state assembly election, over the same reason. They had, however, called off the boycott on both the occasions following assurances by the central government.

Against this backdrop, another party worker noted that it is not a new issue but a decades-old struggle, and that the ‘discontentment and anger’ of the leaders of eastern Nagaland is justified, considering the “governance and betrayal” from the central government.

“When it comes to being politically involved, whether as ruling or non-ruling party members, we are very sure that no party worker will betray the decision and affirmation of the ENPO. The cooperation towards the ENPO’s decision will entirely be eastern Nagaland affair,” the party worker affirmed.

He also expressed uncertainty about the outcome of Saturday’s meeting in Mon but hoped for a positive result and participation in the electoral process.