Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 3
Election Commission of India (ECI) team led by the Chief Election Commissioner, VS Sampath, today met with state political parties to take their opinions and suggestions on the forthcoming state assembly election slated for early March. The visit of the ECI team comes against the backdrop of speculations of impeding solution to the Naga political problem.
Parties including the BJP, NCP and others reportedly told the ECI team that they preferred “solution to the protracted Naga problem should precede election”, sources added. “At least we conveyed to the ECI to pass the message to Government of India that our party favours solution before election”, said a leader of a political party on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, an All Party meeting of political parties in Nagaland was held this afternoon after separate meetings were held with the Election Commission of India team. According to a press note from Johnny G. Rengma, Vice President BJP Nagaland, the All Party Meeting, which was called by the BJP Nagaland President M. Chuba Ao was attended by the BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, RJD and NCP. The ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF) reportedly wished the gathering a happy New Year and walked out.
According to the press note from Johnny G. Rengma, the BJP President had convened the All Party Meeting so that political parties can contribute their services to facilitate the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and Naga national workers to bring about early Naga political solution.
The meeting also discussed that the political parties in Nagaland should give more importance towards finding a political solution then the farcical state election. The meeting took the stand that election at present went against the wishes of the Naga people because “Nagas are more inclined to solution then election”. The meeting also urged the 60 MLAs to resign to pave for Naga political solution.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to request the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to prepone the All Party Meeting convened by the Speaker on January 8.
Meanwhile the BJP Nagaland gave its opinion to the ECI that election should not be imposed against the wishes of the Naga people this time again like in 1998 where almost all the 60 constituency was elected uncontested. The BJP took the position that the Naga public is more inclined towards Naga political solution then election.
The ECI replied that the tenure of the assembly expires by March 18 so the Election Commission had come here to solicit the opinion of the political parties in Nagaland for poll preparation.
