Local politicians and various unions have been making a renewed push for a separate state in eastern Nagaland ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections. Reportedly, as many as 20 Nagaland MLAs have vowed to not contest any elections until the demand is met.
The Assembly election to the 60-member House in Nagaland is due in February next year, while the Supreme Court has also directed the state government to conduct polls to all urban local bodies by January as those are due for more than 12 years.
It should be noted that eastern Nagaland comprises six districts – Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator – which are inhabited by seven tribes of Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung.
Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), an influential body in the region, held a joint consultative meeting with politicians, seven tribal bodies and other organisations from the region on August 26 in Dimapur, where they resolved not to take part in any election until their demand for a separate state of ‘Frontier Nagaland’ was met.
While speaking to media, Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union secretary and advisor for Land Resources, CL John said, “The 20 MLAs from the region cannot go against the will of the people. The statehood agitation is a people’s movement and we are all with them.”
The ENPO has submitted representations and memoranda to the Centre on several occasions since the commencement of the movement in 2010, he said.
John said that people are angered as the Centre is not replying either in affirmative or negative. He said the issue was discussed in the assembly in 2012 and a representation was forwarded to the Centre.
