1. Ten organizations across six eastern Nagaland districts boycott Lok Sabha elections.
2. The decision made in the Tuensang public gathering aligns with the February 23 resolution.
3. Resolution calls for citizen abstention from Central or State elections.
Kohima, March 21: Leaders representing ten organizations across six districts in eastern Nagaland have made a resolute decision to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
This decision, stemming from a public gathering in Tuensang, comes in alignment with a resolution dating back to February 23, urging citizens to abstain from participating in Central or State elections.
Spearheaded by the Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO), the primary reason cited for this boycott is the failure of the Central government to establish the ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ before the announcement of the model code of conduct for the parliamentary polls.
This assertion is based on a commitment made by Home Minister Amit Shah on December 7, 2023, promising a positive stride towards this initiative.
ENPO has been entrusted with devising strategies to enforce the boycott and intends to communicate with the Centre, urging them to disregard any propositions or recommendations regarding the Frontier Nagaland Territory from other entities.
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The Eastern Nagaland region has long endured feelings of neglect in terms of development, prompting residents to advocate for a unique arrangement under Article 371 (A) to address their specific needs.
This arrangement, encompassing executive, legislative, and financial autonomy, is perceived as a potential solution to bridge the existing disparities and uplift the socio-economic conditions of the region.
Manno Wangnao, an independent journalist from Eastern Nagaland, highlights the glaring disparities in government employment across tribes, illustrating the challenges faced by those without access to secure government jobs.
This disparity is further exacerbated by the lack of a robust private sector in Nagaland, leaving many families vulnerable to financial insecurity.
Additionally, infrastructural development in the region remains severely lacking, with minimal progress evident aside from one upcoming medical college in Mon.
The mismanagement of funds allocated for underdeveloped areas, as scrutinized by entities like the Department of Under-Developed Areas (DUDA), further exacerbates the prevailing grievances among the populace.
The demand for a separate state or entity within India, known as Frontier Nagaland, is driven by certain Naga tribes seeking self-determination and autonomy.
The Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation has meticulously outlined the historical and geographical context underpinning this demand, emphasizing the region’s unique status as an ‘excluded and un-administered’ area before Indian Independence.
Despite being amalgamated into the state of Nagaland in 1962, the Eastern Nagaland region contends with under-representation in the Nagaland State Assembly and alleges inequitable allocation of Central Government funds.
Under the constitutional provision of Art. 371 (A) Clause 2(B), the Governor of Nagaland is mandated to ensure fair allocation of Central Government funds between Tuensang district and the rest of the state, a responsibility that has reportedly been overlooked.
Manpang Wangyen, the general secretary of the Konyak union, emphasizes the pressing need for Frontier Nagaland to redress the developmental disparities between eastern and western Nagaland.
This sentiment is echoed by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), which has resolved to abstain from elections until their demands are met.
The escalating tension surrounding the demand for Frontier Nagaland Territory has prompted precautionary measures, with the Konyak Union issuing a public statement urging residents to stock up on essential supplies.
Against this backdrop, the declaration of a ‘public emergency’ by ENPO in Eastern Nagaland regions and the subsequent imposition of a ‘total bandh’ underscores the gravity of the situation.
Despite appeals from local legislators, the resolve to boycott the Lok Sabha elections remains steadfast, indicative of the deep-seated grievances and aspirations driving the Eastern Nagaland populace.
As the impasse persists, the Indian government faces mounting pressure to honor its commitments and address the longstanding grievances of the Eastern Nagaland region.
The outcome of this standoff will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the socio-political landscape of Nagaland and the broader northeastern region of India.
