Invites Naga Hoho, NSF, NMA
DIMAPUR, JAN 15 (MExN): Following up on its position paper in relation to the upcoming Manipur assembly elections, the United Naga Council has convened a meeting on January 16 for all intending candidates of Senapati district to attend. UNC President Paul Leo today said candidates would be explained the reasons compelling the council to come out with its paper.
Terming the impending elections as “very crucial”, Leo said Naga representatives to the Manipur Assembly were “non-performers” during the last nine and a half years. “Our intention is to elect people who have clear vision.”
The UNC is mobilizing its teams to district and sub-divisional headquarters, though it may not be able to visit all villages in Naga-inhabited areas. However, Leo said, “We may cover all extra-sensitive areas.”
He reiterated candidates would be barred from campaigning and added that offering feasts after killing pigs or buffaloes would be disallowed. Offering open bribes or throwing parties or musical concerts will also invite the wrath of the council.
Against all national or regional parties, the UNC is supporting only independent candidates.
Information of an invitation for the Naga Hoho, NSF and NMA to tour the areas was also provided by Leo. However, a definite time-frame for civil society organizations to visit the same has yet to be fixed with Naga Hoho General Secretary Neingulo Krome saying that they would intervene only if necessity arises. A date for consultations to delve into the matter has also not been fixed, Krome added.
Along the same lines, NSF President Pushika Aomi said the feasibility of their visit would be measured before coming to a decision, after the Naga Hoho convenes a meeting.
Meanwhile, according to news reports, to prevent proxy voting during the three-phased elections, security personnel to be deployed in all designated polling stations are to be given additional power even as the Election Commission has asked the Manipur Government to provide security to the intending candidates from the hill districts if they face threat while filing nomination papers at their respective designated offices.
