The 18th Lok Sabha Election 2024 is anticipated to be a crucial event for Indian Politics, with the potential to shape the country’s future trajectory. As the Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) completes its second term in power, the Political landscape is expected to be highly competitive, with various parties vying for power and influence.
Some people view the Elections with skepticism, feeling disillusioned with the very Political System.
This 18th Lok Sabha Election 2024 is crucial as whoever comes to power will exercise the delimitation process which is going to be in 2026.
In Nagaland, the NDPP led PDA, the Congress and an Independent candidate are vying for the lone Lok Sabha Seat with the aim of bringing development, specially focusing on the long overdue Naga Political Solution. The issue has been going on for decades and is expressing the voice of the people of Nagaland as an ethnic and religious minority state in the country.
It is imperative to mention that while the dialogue on Naga political issue has been ongoing between the GoI and the various Naga political groups for decades, besides the Framework Agreement signed between the GoI and NSCN (IM) in 2015 and Agreed Position signed between the WC of NNPGs in 2017, both agreements being signed with BJP as the ruling party in the centre which is a big step towards a solution, there has been no noticeable progress in a long while now and this stands to be a cause of concern for the people of Nagaland.
On the religious front, Nagaland being a Christian majority state with a 99% population of Christians, it is cause of concern for its citizens that atrocities against Christians are on the rise in the country. The introduction of UCC, even though the state has been exempted (might eventually prove to be a threat to Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution), remains to be a topic of uncertainty and apprehension among the people. Another critical issue that concerns the people of the state is the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
Such being the situation and state of the affairs, Nagas at this juncture needs strong representation at the centre, somebody who would strongly voice the hope and aspirations of the people while also fighting for every Rights of the Nagas enshrined in the constitution of India, irrespective of Party affiliation whether the party be in power or opposition.
May the people vote from the heart and choose a worthy representative.
Chumthungo Patton
B.A. 4th Sem
Modern College, Piphema
