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Kohima, Feb. 14 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party leader Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said the state government will announce election to the urban local bodies (ULBs) in March this year with 33% reservation for women.
‘ULB election will be announced in March this year and we will implement the 33% reservation for women,’ Rio said during the election campaign kick-off cum rally of NDPP candidate Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire from 9 Kohima Town Assembly Constituency at PWD Junction in Kohima.
Maintaining that the Centre will not provide “grant” to the state if the ULB elections are not conducted, he said if some sections of the society object to the 33% reservation for women this time, it might be implemented only in those areas that endorse it.
Elected members of the ULBs will decide how and who to impose tax, he said, adding that whatever taxes are collected from the people of specific towns/councils will be used for developing the specific areas only.
The revenue through taxes will be used for development activities such as road, street lights, maintenance, sanitation, etc., he added.
The Supreme Court had in July last year passed an order directing the State Election Commission to “complete” and “declare results” of the ULB election by the end of January 2023. It also listed the matter for the next hearing for compliance in the second week of February 2023.
The apex court had also slated November 24, 2022, as the date for the final publication of electoral rolls, following the State Cabinet, in a meeting, decided to seek additional time to conduct the election with reservation got women in place.
Prior to that, the state government, in compliance with the SC order, announced its decision to conduct elections to the ULBs with 33% reservation for women as per the 74th Amendment Act of the Constitution of India but it did not specify the date of the election.
It may be mentioned that Nagaland conducted its first and only election under the Municipal and Town Council Act of 2001 in 2004 without reservation for women, which functioned till 2009.
The state government announced polls to the ULB with 33% reservation for women in 2017 but was disrupted by violent protests, which claimed two lives.