The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organizations (CCNTHCO) has called for a joint meeting of all national and regional political parties and the negotiating parties of NSCN-IM and the working committee of Naga national Political Groups (NNPGs) in Kohima on Monday to decide the final course of action regarding the ensuing Assembly polls.
It has asked all concerned to attend the meeting positively.
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Meanwhile, the CCNTHCO has appreciated all political parties – NPF, BJP, Congress, NPP, NDPP, NCP, Nagaland Congress, JD (U) and AAP -for ‘whole heartedly supporting the popular wishes of the people on solution before election’.
The CCNTHCO exuded confidence that the political parties in ‘accordance with the wishes of the people’ will not file nominations.
However, political parties in the State have expressed scepticism about boycotting the forthcoming assembly elections scheduled for February 27as demanded by the CCNTHCO.
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This was echoed during the CCNTHCO consultative meeting held in Kohima on Saturday, with representatives of various political parties for seeking unanimity to not file nominations for the polls. BJP gave the meeting a miss.
On the other hand, NPF president, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has informed the CCNTHCO that the party would restrain its candidates from filing nominations even at the eleventh hour, if all other parties do so.
Also read: NPF to skip polls if all parties agree on consensus: Zeliang
Dr Shürhozelie cited the meeting about the 1998 experience when all parties heeded to call of the Naga Hoho of boycotting the polls but eventually Congress candidates filed nominations under heavy security.
While expressing apprehension about repeating history, Dr Liezietsu also said it would be a hasty step to agree unless the party went into the details.
The NPF president also added that if any political party files nominations, NPF will follow suit, and for which the ‘Naga people should not misunderstand him’.
AAP advisor, Sushil Kumar also assured the party’s support for the ‘solution before election’ cause issue but cautioned the CCNTHCO that the 1998 situation should not get repeated.
Earlier, the CCNTHCO has requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer the polls till a permanent and amicable solution to the decades-old Naga problem is arrived at.
“The opportunity for a peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue has never been this favourable as the political negotiations are in advanced stage and we cannot afford to distract the focus on the process at any cost,” the letter had stated.
Thus, any decision by the ECI to ‘defer the elections will give crucial time that is needed now for the negotiations to have logical conclusion without allowing anything whatsoever to hamper it’, the letter added.