DIMAPUR, JANUARY 12 (MExN): Just a day after the Nagaland State Election Commission announced 535 validly nominated candidates for the February 1 Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in the state, 37 candidates have reportedly withdrawn their candidature till January 12.
This comes as various tribe organisations have continued their call to boycott the polls, with some warning intending candidates of excommunication from their community.
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations informed that “as per report received till January 12,” the number of candidates who withdrew their nominations included 27 from Pfutsero, 4 from Kiphire, 2 from Meluri, 1 from Tobu and 1 from Dimapur.
Gov asks stakeholders to cooperate
Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya has appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities for the smooth conduct of Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, with 33% women’s reservation in the state, scheduled to be held on February 1.
A press note from the Governor stated that “although equality of the sexes is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, it is not the social reality. Therefore, vigorous affirmative action was needed to improve the condition of women.”
Giving 33% reservation to women, he said would empower not only women but change the social structure of India in many ways. “Despite long years of democratic politics, women remain largely outside the national public space.
Their presence here is largely token and ‘happens’ despite the natural barriers that facilitate men while debarring women. This is because consciously and subconsciously women’s roles continue to be assigned to the private sphere, as men are given public roles,” the Governor said.
He added that women in far flung rural areas have advocated collective and grassroots solutions to local problems. “They have been sensitive to the excluded, having been excluded themselves for so long. The choices they have made help the community as a whole rather than just the dominant male elite.”
The Governor maintained that “it is high time that we have to elect Municipal/Town Councils, so that sanitation, pure drinking water, health facilities etc. which are the basic need for civilised life are taken care properly.” “Our women can play a positive role,” he stated. While stating that dialogue is the only way to solve all issues, the Governor asked all NGOs to follow the law and to allow the elections to take place as announced.
Postpone polls: NPCC
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), in an emergency general session held today resolved to urge the Government of Nagaland to postpone the ULB Election, till consensus is arrived with the Tribe Hohos and the Village Councils.
A press note from the NPCC said that the house also resolved to endorse the January 9, 2017 Executive Committee resolutions on demonetization and condemned the “senseless act of denonetization by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has crippled economic activity across the nation.”
Tribe orgs float Coordination Committee
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 12
tribe organisations convened today in Dimapur to form a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) to oppose the ULB elections scheduled on February 1. The JCC comprises of the Lotha Hoho Dimapur, Western Sumi Hoho, Western Chakhesang Hoho, Chakroma Public Organisation (Kuda unit) and the Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur.
At a media briefing, it was informed that the Committee will be led by the ASTD president Supu Jamir as convenor and the presidents of the other 4 tribe organisations as co-convenors. Also present during the briefing were Vekhosayi Nyekha from the Western Chakhesang Hoho; Lichio Kithan, Vice President, Lotha Hoho Dimapur; and Mozen, Joint Secretary of the JCC.
JCC Convenor Jamir said that at its maiden meeting held today the five respective organisations resolved to “insist upon (intending) candidates to withdraw their candidatures with immediate effect.” It further resolved to constitute a ‘Joint Action Committee’ involving the respective organisations’ youth fronts and other like-minded organisations to “accomplish the demand of the Naga public.” Terming the opposition to the ULB elections as “not a mere protest but a people’s movement,” the JCC appealed the Naga public to cooperate with the call of the JCC and be prepared to face any eventuality. The JCC meanwhile maintained that the question of a constitutional provision thwarting another equally justified provision or an Act of law from being implemented does not arise, as the Nagaland Municipal Act and its provision reserving seats for women, though approved by the State Assembly, was done so without the consent of the people.
