Candidates continue to face threat of ‘excommunication’
• Even if elected you will not receive cooperation, says LHJAC
• CPO warns those acting against wishes of Chakhesang people
• JCC, NCD, CNTC ask NPF candidates to withdraw, to organize protest rally
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 15
With the Urban Local Body (ULB) polls for Nagaland State a fortnight away, the standoff between organizations opposing the polls and those supporting it drags on.
53 candidates have already withdrawn their nomination from the polls, following calls for the same by various organizations. Meanwhile the demand for the remaining candidates to do the same continued today as various tribe and village bodies issued statements, threatening defaulting candidates with excommunication.
The Lotha Hoho Joint Action Committee (LHJAC) for instance resolved that candidates who fail to withdraw their candidature would not be recognized even if elected and not receive cooperation.
“The Lotha Public will bar him/her from having affiliation with any Lotha organizations including presently held posts or status,” the committee said in a press note. It cautioned that the Lotha public “will with immediate effect de-recognize his/her membership as Lotha along with his/her entire family members from Lotha Community.”
The committee also questioned the NPF central leadership as to “why warning is being given to the candidates of other districts for stern action if their candidature is withdrawn, when they could not file even a single candidate in Kohima and Mokokchung districts?”
The Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) meanwhile informed it “has been marking all those” who have been “playing bigger roles behind the screen” in going against the wishes of the Chakhesang people. The CPO will not remain silent over your activities, it cautioned.
It meanwhile urged the Chozuba Range Public Organization and the Phek Area Public Organization to immediately submit the antecedent of every candidate who has not abided by the CPO resolution by January 16.
It further asked all the area presidents, VCCs, GBs, Phek town youth society and ward chairman to assist the Chakhesang Youth Front in detailing youth during the course of taking action against the defaulters. It also directed all the area/range presidents and executive council members to reach the CPO office on January 16.
Further, the Chumukedima Village Council in a meeting today served the last notice/warning to candidates for the ULB polls in its jurisdiction to withdraw their nomination by January 16. Failing this, the council warned would lead to the expulsion/excommunication of the candidates from Chumukedima area. It also appealed to the state government to postpone the ULB election until the issue is thoroughly deliberated and a desirable settlement is reached. In Dimapur, a conglomeration of three organisations issued a diktat today asking intending NPF candidates for the Dimapur Municipal Council polls to withdraw candidature. The diktat came with the warning that the candidates will face expulsion if they fail to comply.
This decision was taken at a joint meeting of the Naga Council Dimapur, Central Nagaland Tribes Council and the freshly floated Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on Sunday.
At a media briefing, convenor of the freshly floated Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), Supu Jamir maintained that the decision is in line with the NCD directive. “If they (candidates) fail to withdraw, the three organisations resolved to expel them from the jurisdiction of Dimapur,” Jamir said. JCC co-convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha and Secretary Renpo Lotha were also present at the briefing.
As per Jamir, “other candidates” not of the NPF have expressed willingness to withdraw. Some non-NPF candidates are reportedly willing to withdraw candidature provided the NPF candidates do so. At least two BJP candidates are said to have already expressed this willingness.
The NPF candidates are reportedly unreachable as according to the JCC, efforts to meet the candidates personally have been unsuccessful.
The 3 organisations also questioned a woman candidate from Ward 18, Aphien Pame’s eligibility to contest on grounds of origin. “The house resolved to direct the NPF candidate from Ward 18 to immediately withdraw as she is not even eligible to contest, failing which the three organisations will take stern action,” Jamir said.
A protest rally under the NCD banner is also in the offing. Co-convenor, Nyekha said that it will be organised in Dimapur at an “appropriate time sometime after January 17.”
