Nagaland Election 2023: More tribal bodies bar filing of nomination

More apex tribal bodies under the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) have barred persons from filing nominations for the upcoming Nagaland Assembly election until the government of India fulfils the Frontier Nagaland statehood demand.

The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) on Sunday stated that the Khiamniungan people would not participate in any election process of the state and Centre until and unless a separate statehood is fulfilled as demanded by the people of eastern Nagaland.

Reiterating its joint consultative meeting with all the frontal organisations and village council held on Sep.22, 2022 at Noklak headquarters, KTC affirmed to support the Aug.26 ENPO resolution for separate statehood.

Further, it resolved to ban any election-related campaign by any political parties, candidature declaration programme by any individual(s), group or party under Khiamniungan jurisdiction.

‘Stern action against any member of KTC will be taken against the individual that stands against the ENPO statehood demand,’ the KTC warned.

The KTC also fully endorsed and empowered the Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU), Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam (KMH), village councils, Noklak Town Sectors’ Union and village public organisations to fully implement and act upon the directives. 

Meanwhile, the United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji (USLP) during its emergency meeting held with all the frontal organisations under USLP, all political parties, all Hd. GBs, VCC, United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) and Akehta Sangtamlaru Thsingmujang (AST) at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall in Kiphire on Jan. 21, resolved that no individual or candidate should file nomination under Sangtam jurisdiction and in the event any individual under USLP is found violating the resolution would be ex-communicated from Sangtam community effectively.

It warned that any individual failing to adhere to the directives, the USLP would not be held responsible in the event of any circumstances. It further informed that the USLP had also endorsed and empowered the USSC, AST and the village councils to fully implement the resolution.

The Phom Peoples’ Council(PPC) in an emergency meeting on Jan. 21 at the Phom Peoples’ Council Hall, also resolved and reiterated to remain “steadfast and firm” to the ENPO resolution to abstain from taking part in the upcoming Assembly Election, a press statement said.

It said the house resolved to permanently expel those individual(s) filing nomination to participate in the upcoming election from the Phom land and the respective village of the person filing nomination would be held solely responsible.

The PPC also endorsed the respective village councils, Phom Students’ Conference and its federating units and Phomla Hoichem to fully implement and act upon the resolution, it read.