Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 14
On March 12, the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) had issued a “Directive” instructing all the 20 legislators, representing the eastern Nagaland bloc, and the Rajya Sabha Member to report to Tuensang by March 14. The directive coincided with the surfacing of an Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) “Meeting Minutes” dating to February 28, in which a decision to participate in the election process was taken. The decision was counter to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) call to boycott any state and central, which was reasserted on February 23.
On March 14, it emerged that the ENLU did not report to Tuensang. The ENPO issued a statement explaining, “In view of ENLU travelling to New Delhi on March 15, 2024, the meeting has been postponed to March 19, 2024 from 10:00 AM onwards at CKS Hall, Tuensang.” As per the statement, there was supposed to be a joint coordination meeting of all the frontal organisations of the eastern bloc.
It further informed all— Rajya Sabha Member, 20 legislators, Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers' Association, Talk Team, ENPO Advisors and former ENPO, Easter Nagaland Women’s Organisation and ENSF Presidents, to attend “the proposed meeting positively.”
Already planned Delhi trip
The ENLU, meanwhile, was allegedly scheduled to travel to Delhi on account of which, the March 14 assembly in Tuensang was postponed. “We were already scheduled to go to Delhi, because of which the meeting had to be postponed,” said ENLU Secretary, Lima Onen Chang.
The purpose of the Delhi trip, according to Chang, is to meet the committee constituted by Ministry of Home Affairs to parley with the ENPO. He said that the ENLU’s intention is to get a feel of the negotiations and “know the status of the talks.” They were still to get an appointment with the said committee however.
He added that 3 of the 20 legislators were already in Delhi and the other 17 members will be joining them on March 15.
If their stay gets extended, he said that the ENLU have conveyed to the ENPO to keep the March 19 meeting date flexible. “From our side we have asked them leave the date flexible depending on the progress of our meeting with the Central leaders,” he said.
In the event, the elections go ahead without the GoI making good on the FNT pledge, Chang was of the opinion that the ENPO leaders will understand.
As elected representatives, he said that legislators are obligated to participate in the election process.
