ENPO stands firm on election abstention; faults Nagaland government for FNT delay

DIMAPUR — The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has squarely placed blame on the state government for the delay in the settlement of the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), citing the government’s failure to provide comments on the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

According to a statement issued by the ENPO after a public meeting in Tuensang on Thursday, the MHA had purportedly handed over the highlights of draft MoS to the state government in December 2023, expecting comments and feedback by Dec. 31, 2023. The commitment made by the MHA to the ENPO was that the FNT arrangement would be finalised prior to the enforcement of the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

“But it was learnt that the State Government is yet to give its comments on the draft to the Government of India – due to which, the FNT could not materialise,” before the announcement of MCC, it said.

Consequently, the ENPO reiterated the February 23, 2024 Chenmoho Resolution to abstain from participating in both central and state elections, “because of the state government not giving its comments on the highlights of draft MoS to the Government of India which has stalled the settlement of FNT.”

According to sources, the ENPO’s federating bodies including the Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS), Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC), Konyak Union (KU), Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC), United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC), Eastern Sumi Hoho (ESH) and Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) have also resolved to continue to stand firm on its decision to abstain from the electoral process.