Konyak Union reaffirms non-participation in Lok Sabha election 2024

DIMAPUR — Even as Nagaland is getting ready to go to polls on April 19, to elect its lone member to the Lok Sabha, the Konyak Union (KU) on Saturday passed five resolutions, restricting its members from voting in the upcoming general election.

It came in the backdrop of reaffirmation from the tribal bodies and apex civil organisations of the six eastern districts to stand by the February 23, 2024 Chenmoho resolution “not to participate in any Central and State election and all citizens of Eastern Nagaland shall refrain from casting vote” against the Centre’s failure to settle the offer for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FMT) through the Ministry of Home Affairs, as assured by Union Home Minister on December 7, 2023.

The KU resolved to take action if anyone from its region is found taking part in the voting process during the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

It resolved that the government employees from the region can go for election duty but with the following conditions: no ballot paper voting to be cast; no election campaign of any political party, no flags, no pamphlets and no banners of any political party; no polling agents; and no counting agents.

It was also resolved that the KU units, student body, women organisation and village councils would strictly follow the resolutions passed as well as given the power to act accordingly.

Mention may be made that the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has convened the eastern Nagaland public emergency meeting on March 28 in Tuensang following the nonparticipation of the 20 Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) members along with the Rajya Sabha MP during the March 19 meeting.

This was decided by the house during the meeting on March 19 in Tuensang, endorsing the ENPO to convene another public meeting along with all the 20 ENLU members within a week’s time in consultation with the ENLU and as per their convenient date.

Also read: Nagaland Chief Minister requests ENPO not to boycott Lok Sabha election