Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 3
The long overdue municipal and town council election in Nagaland, now scheduled to be held in February 2017, has turned into a face-off between men dominated civil societies and tribe organisations, and the Nagaland State Government.
The Naga civil societies led by the Naga Hoho has been opposing the civic elections with 33% women reservation on the contention that it is a direct infringement of Naga customary laws and traditional practices and Article 371-A of the Indian Constitution.
Amid heated debates, the Nagaland government introduced the Nagaland Municipal (Third Amendment) Bill 2016 in the Assembly and revoked the Assembly Resolution of September 22, 2012 regarding to 33% women reservation in municipalities during the NLA winter session 2016 held in November.
The Nagaland State Government had time and again tried to convince that the municipal election with the adopted 33% reservation in no way infringes on Naga customary laws, but tribe based organisations refused to concur.
The Government also went into an overdrive to inaugurate a number of town councils, that by the end of 2016, there were three municipal councils and 29 town councils, almost double the numbers to the then existing urban local bodies. The Centre is expected to sanction at least Rs 40 crore as grant annually for their development.
With the arrival of the date for filing of nominations, fixed from January 3 onwards, Naga civil society organisations, have collectively opposed the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) election with 33% women reservation.
Organisations that have opposed the ULB election in its current form include, among others, the Naga Hoho, Ao Senden, Angami Public Organization, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, Central Nagaland Tribes Council, Sumi Hoho and its frontal organizations, Chakhroma Public Organization, Angami Youth Organization, Kohima Village Council, Southern Angami Public Organization, Chumoukedima Village Council, Medziphema Town Mechu Krotho and the Naga Council Dimapur.
On Tuesday, the Chakhesang Public Organization joined the fray to boycott the Municipal Council/Town Council election process within its jurisdiction. It directed respective Village Council Chairman to refrain its members from participating in the Municipal/Town Council elections. “Any Chakhesang violating this decision shall be ex-communicated from the community and further actions shall be taken as deem fit. The Chakhesang Youth Front is empowered to enforce the above resolution,” the CPO stated.
The organizations also cautioned political parties and intending candidates to refrain from filing nominations unless an understanding is reached between the State Government and them, stated the APO, various Tribal Hohos and other Naga civil societies. “If any candidate files the nominations papers without honouring the KVC and APO resolution will be doing so at their own risk and he or she will be responsible entirely,” a press statement from Kohima Village Youth Organization read.
In another press statement, the Lotha Hoho cautioned all intending candidates for Wokha and Bhandari Town Councils that they would be violating the decision of the Hoho if they file nomination papers and would be doing so at “his/her own personal risk.”
No nomination papers filed in Dmp, Khm & Mkg
The cautionary diktats against filing of nomination papers from various organizations seemed to have desired effect as indicated by the zero filing of nomination papers in the districts of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung on the first day. In Dimapur, on the first day of opening nominations for the civic body polls, altogether 86 intending candidates collected nomination papers for the 23 wards under Dimapur Municipal Council elections.
However, till 2pm on Tuesday, not a single nomination had been filed. This was informed by the Returning Officer (RO), Elizabeth Ngully, who is also ADC Dimapur. Out of the 86 forms, 29 were collected by intending female candidates while 57 forms were collected by intending male candidates, she said.
The RO informed that the polls would be held through ballot papers and that appointment of other poll officials have started. She said security arrangement for the elections were also ongoing. Meanwhile, supporting the APO’s boycott call, the AYO started its boycott.
In the state capital Kohima, AYO delegated its volunteers around ‘Y’ Junction which is en-route to DC office, Kohima. The AYO said it will boycott the elections within Angami jurisdiction “until an amicable solution to the ongoing imbroglio is arrived at.” It hoped that the Government of Nagaland will “come to its sense and listen to the voice of the Naga people.”
According to a DPRO report, ADC and RO Kohima Municipal Council, Lithrongla Tongpi informed that no nomination paper in respect of Kohima Town Council Election was received from any candidate on the first day of filling the Nomination Paper till 3pm. The RO also informed that a total number of 26 forms had been issued as on January 3.
The same case scenario was reported from Mokokchung district. Filing of nomination paper for the Mokokchung Municipal Council and Town councils in Mokokchung district began amidst boycott of the process by the Ao Senden.
According to ADC & RO, Mokokchung, no nomination paper was received from any candidature on the first day of the nomination. Filing of nomination paper will continue till January 7, 2017 and scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on January 10. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is January 17 and the election will be held on February 1, 2017.
Similarly, in Meluri Town Council, no nomination papers were filed on the first day, a source informed.
However, in Phek Town Council, 13 nomination papers were filed on the first day of the filing of nomination papers. According to sources, the list includes 10 NPF candidates and 3 Independent candidates.
Do not categorize Dimapur: NCD
The Naga Council, Dimapur has appealed all the civil societies and tribal bodies not to categorize Dimapur into jurisdiction/territory and belonging to any particular tribe or organizations. It is a city for all Nagas, it stated.
In a press note, the Naga Council, Dimapur said such statements appearing in the media will hurt the general Naga sentiment and has therefore appealed all section of civil societies and individual to be careful of the words that is meant to be published in the media.
Pochury Hoho does not object to ULB election
In the midst of the stiff opposition coming from different organizations across the state, the Pochury Hoho, the only organization so far to voice in favour of the municipal and town election saying it had no objection to the civic election with the 33% women reservation.
“If any group of people or organization of Pochury is taking up an initiative step for social uplift and community development, the Pochury Hoho shall not stop/sabotage them from doing their job in the interest of the people of Pochury,” the office memorandum from the Hoho stated.
