Only indigenous Nagas can contest ULB polls, reiterates DNSU

DIMAPUR —  The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has reiterated its stance that only indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland should be allowed to contest in the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the union underscored the importance of drawing the difference between ‘indigenous Naga inhabitants’ and ‘non-indigenous Naga inhabitants’ of the state.

It said that although political parties are permitted to allot tickets to any candidate under the Nagaland Municipal Act, “beyond the strictly formal legal requirements, there are many other considerations to be made for the welfare and security of Nagas who are indigenous to Nagaland”.

It went on to state that Nagas, who are not indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland, must understand the fragility of the situation and the need to maintain harmony within the Naga community, and with such understanding, refrain from contesting in Dimapur Municipal Council.

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“Nagas indigenous to Nagaland cannot contest in elections in other Naga areas and therefore, Nagas from other Naga areas must also respect the sentiments of indigenous Nagas in Nagaland,” it said, asserting that the ULB election is a state municipal election under a different administrative control.

Further, the DNSU expressed concern over the prevailing situation surrounding the upcoming ULB polls, where “political parties and certain groups guided by self-vested individual interests are creating an atmosphere that could bring about catastrophic situations in the future, at the expense of indigenous Naga inhabitants of Nagaland”.

“It is therefore, made clear that for any untoward incidents arising because of non-Nagas and non-indigenous Nagas contesting in the upcoming ULB elections, political parties giving tickets to such individuals shall be held fully responsible,” it added.

The student union appealed to the state government, hohos and all right-thinking civil society organisations to be “very cautious and take the matter seriously”. It also urged all youths and elders in Nagaland to exercise great caution while voting in order to ensure that only Nagas who are indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland are elected.

“We are already witnessing incursions by outsiders in the economy of our state and to allow outsiders to directly meddle in our political affairs as well would be a tremendous blunder from which we may never recover,” it added.

Also read: NSF reiterates demand for indigenous representation in ULB elections