Guwahati, Oct 18: Demands for the creation of separate states are gathering momentum in Nagaland and Meghalaya ahead of Assembly elections that are to take place early next year.
The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), the apex tribal body in eastern Nagaland, said it would not participate in the poll process and people would demand the resignation of the 20 legislators of the region from the Assembly if the Centre does not accede to the “Frontier Nagaland” state demand.
CL John Konyak, who’s the secretary of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union, stated that “I can not make any remark now at the issue.” The state has 60 Assembly seats in sixteen districts.
The people of eastern Nagaland envisage a separate state by slicing off the six districts of Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang. Some of them share a border with Myanmar. The separate state call stems from the region’s alleged backwardness among others.
Also Read: Witness the Annual Amur Falcon Migration in Northeastern states
On August 26 this year adopted a resolution of not taking part in any election procedure except the Centre creates the Frontier Nagaland nation. Later on September 7, it directed the tribal bodies below its fold to prohibit any election-associated marketing campaign and sports of their respective jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, the Garos in Meghalaya renewed the call for a separate “Garoland” state. The Garoland State Movement Committee, in collaboration with the National Federation for the New States (NFNS), is organizing a “congregation” of the Garos in Tura on October 29 to push for the Garoland state demand.
Nagaland Assembly
The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Kohima, the capital of the state. The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years unless dissolved earlier. Presently, it comprises 60 members who are directly elected from single-seat constituencies. Nagaland has 60 Assembly seats in 16 districts.
Meghalaya Assembly
The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Vidhana Bhavan in Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya. The term of the Legislative Assembly is five years unless dissolved earlier. Presently, it comprises 60 members who are directly elected from single-seat constituencies.
