All political parties in insurgency ravaged Nagaland on Monday have decided to stay away from ensuing Nagaland Assembly elections. The decision came following a meeting of all political parties in Kohima.
Political parties including BJP have expressed solidarity on the issue of ‘Solution before Election’. They have decided not to issue tickets to their aspiring candidates or file nomination in order to bring Naga political issue a reality.
The declaration has been made in the presence of apex tribal Hohos and civil society organizations.
“We firmly believe that it is expedient for all the political parties, both national and regional, to come together in the greater interest of the State in solidarity with the call Solution before Election and defer the elections to the 13 th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and allow the Naga political process to reach its logical conclusion by giving space and time to the negotiating groups to bring out an early solution,” the declaration said.
Signatories of the political parties include Congress, BJP, NPF, UNDP, NCP, Nagaland Congress, AAP, NDPP, NPP, LNJP and JD (U).
Election to the Nagaland Assembly to elect members of the 60 constituencies was slated to be held on February 27. The counting of votes was scheduled for March 3. The election procedure was to be completed on March 5.
A week after the Election Commission of India’s announcement of the election schedule for Nagaland Assembly, the NSCN-IM made it clear that imposition of such elections is not acceptable to the Naga people who are for an early negotiated political settlement.
According to the outfit, the decision taken by the Government of India and the Election Commission of India to hold election is bound to undermine the progress of the ongoing talks between the NSCN and the Government of India and become a serious obstacle towards finding an early political solution.
The rebel outfit in a statement said those who advocate the “imposed election” do not stand for the interest of the Naga people
On December 15 last the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed resolutions on the Naga political issue urging the Union Government to find out an early solution of the long-standing Naga political issue and appealed to all to cooperate with negotiating groups of Government of India, NSCN-IM and six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs).
Several NGOs have earlier appealed to the union government not to hold the Assembly elections before the settlement of Naga issue. Konyak Union (KU) and the Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC), two influential organizations of Nagaland also decided to boycott the Assembly Polls earlier.
