Bandh, weapon for delimitation

Kohima, January 28 (The Telegraph): Three Naga tribes called a 12-hour bandh today in protest against Delhi’s decision not to go ahead with the process of delimitation of constituencies in Nagaland. The bandh is expected to affect traffic on National Highway 39, the lifeline of Manipur and parts of Nagaland, and National Highway 61, which passes through Kohima and Mokokchung en route to Amguri in Assam.

The Chakhroma Public Organisation, the apex organisation of the western Angami Nagas, is behind the bandh on National Highway 39. The Lotha and Rengma tribes have called for a bandh in Wokha district and Tseminyu subdivision. The bandh on National Highway 61, beginning 5am, will affect parts of Kohima , Wokha, Mokokchung and Zunheboto.

The Chakhroma Public Organisation, Lotha Hoho and Rengma Hoho said the ordinance on delimitation was a blatant violation of the recommendations sent to the state in April 2007 by the Delimitation Commission of India. Other Naga tribes that are demanding the implementation of delimitation are the Chakhesangs in Phek district, Phoms of Longleng and Zeliangrongs in Peren.

The rest of the Naga tribes are opposed to delimitation, making for a complicated situation. Phek district has five Assembly seats, Longleng has two, Peren two and Wokha four. The Chakhroma Public Organisation wields clout in Ghaspani-1 and II constituencies.

Ghaspani-1 has the highest number of voters in the state while Aonglenden has the lowest. Aonglenden is the constituency of Goa governor SC Jamir’s son Apok Jamir. The number of voters in Peren is 59,254, Phek has 1,19,724, Wokha 108,900, Longleng 71,637 and Tseminyu sub-division 25,408.

Kohima has six constituencies and 1,28,844 voters. Dimapur has five seats and the total electorate is 1,68,366. Mokokchung has 10 seats with 1,74,011 voters, Zunheboto has seven seats with 1,03,949 voters and Mon has nine seats with 1,54,015 voters. Tuensang has 1,25,918 voters and seven seats and Kiphire has two seats with 50,481 voters. The cumulative strength of the Nagaland electorate is 13,00,507.