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Dimapur, Nov. 7 (EMN): National People’s Party has opposed the decision of the state government to nominate members to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for an interim period, stating that it is neither ‘constitutional nor democratic.’
A press statement from NPP issued on Sunday said that ULBs, which comes under urban local government, implies governance by people through elected representatives.
“When we consider the constitutional provisions and functioning of ULBs in India, it does not come as a welcome sign that our State Government is bypassing a prerequisite entity of a democratic set-up and that is to conduct free and fair elections to the ULBs including DMC and KMC,” read the statement.
NPP claimed that the state government was ‘averting a showdown’ of the contentious issue of 33% reservation for women in the ULBs.
“It not only shows the inability of the State Government to solve crucial law and order issues but also reveals its incompetency in understanding the ground realities of the grassroots politics of which ULBs are integral components,” it read.
It stated that nomination to ULBs was undemocratic ‘as only a few selected individuals finding favour with their political bosses will be appointed as members of the ULBs’.
“This will not only give rise to nepotism and favoritism to prevail but also will lead to more corruption which is at the very root of poor development in Nagaland. There will be total lack of accountability and an increase in the misappropriation of public money which is collected as revenue by the ULBs.
“This arbitrary decision of the State Government without consultation with the stakeholders will create more discrepancies and dissatisfaction from all corners in the coming future and for which the State Government should be solely held accountable,” read the statement.
The party further urged the civil society organisations, tribal hohos, student bodies and like-minded individuals to ‘voice out such unreasonable and biased steps taken by the State Government which can jeopardise the healthy democracy and polity of the state’.