DIMAPUR, JANUARY 8 (MExN): With only a day left till the extended deadline for filing nominations to 6 municipal and town councils for the upcoming ULB elections, Kohima, Mokokchung and Medziphema are geared to experience bandhs on Monday, while a bandh is already in place at Tuensang. The Ao Senden called for a total bandh on January 9 in Mokokchung from 8:00am to 3:00pm, in protest against the decision of the Nagaland State Government to extend the deadline for filling of nominations to the Nagaland Municipal and Town Council elections. Total restriction on movement of vehicles and public will be enforced during the bandh; however police, paramilitary, medical, magistrate on duty, media and other emergency services will be exempted from the purview of the bandh. A press note from the Ao Senden termed the decision to extend the deadline as a “direct insult and disrespect to the people.” It further accused the Nagaland State Government of “hurting the sentiments of the people especially when the extended dateline touches Sunday, a sacred day for Christians.” The bandh on January 9, it said has been called “as an expression of extreme displeasure against the state government who have shown total disregard to the sentiment of the people by extending the dateline for filling of nominations.” In Tuensang, a bandh called by the CKS and the TVCU came into force at 6:00pm on Sunday and will continue to be enforced till 6:00pm Monday. The CKS President informed that while government offices would be allowed to remain open, movement of civilians would be restricted in order to prevent intending candidates from filing their nominations. The Angami Youth Organization (AYO) has meanwhile decided to make certain modifications and changes to the bandh called on January 9. A press note from the AYO informed that the bandh would be partial and would be imposed exclusively in the area from TCP Gate to North PS Junction including D Block area. The AYO bandh will also be enforced in Medziphema. It further said that pedestrian and vehicular movements will not be allowed within the periphery of the main town area. It directed all shops within the restricted area to remain closed, however pharmacies and eateries (Bakeries & Rice Hotel) are directed to remain open. Pharmacies and eateries failing to remain open tomorrow will invite action, the AYO cautioned. However, all educational institutions as well as students attending classes and exams are exempted from the bandh. The AYO further asked the Assam Rifles to minimize vehicular movement going in or out from their camp which falls within the restricted zone. Meanwhile, the Chakhroma GBs’ Union has expressed shock at the way in which some intending candidates to the Chumukedima Town Council were “clandestinely made to submit their nominations at the DC’s Office Dimapur on January 7, instead of doing so at the Office of the EAC Chümoukedima as is normally supposed to be done.” It advised those candidates who had filed their nomination papers within the jurisdiction of Chakhroma area to immediately withdraw their nominations to “mitigate the anger of the public against them or else if they go ahead with their candidature in defiance of the public desire, we can foresee serious ramification and consequences even on the polling day and even in the days thereafter.” The Lotha Hoho also called for the withdrawal of nominations by candidates who filed from Wokha and Bhandari. A press note from the Lotha Hoho informed that a meeting of the general public of Wokha town, surrounding villages, all Lotha frontal organisations, including Kohima Lotha Hoho and Dimapur Lotha Hoho, resolved that all the intending candidates, who have filed nomination for the ULB election at Wokha and Bhandari towns are to withdraw their nominations immediately. It may also be noted that the Angami Public Organisation (APO) had a meeting with the Nagaland Chief Minister on Sunday, but it was informed that the meeting failed to resolve the issue. The APO President informed that while the government had appealed for allowing conduct of the polls, the APO remains steadfast regarding its stand. Of the 32 Urban Local Bodies in the state, Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon, Tuensang, Medziphema and Changtongya are yet to see any nominations being filed. The remaining 26 ULBs have seen 567 nominations, which include 174 women.
