Filing of nominations for Naga ULBs commences amid boycott

Filing of nomination for the February 1 election to the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland commenced today, amidst protest against the conduct of election.
Filing of nomination will continue till January 7.
Even as the tribal organisations like Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) and village councils in the state have called for boycott and appealed to their community members not to participate in the electioneering process, altogether 13 nominations were filed for Phek Town Council under Phek district.
State Election Commissioner, Sentiyanger Imchen through a text message confirmed that filing of nomination. Ten nominations are from the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) while three are Independent Candidates.

However, nominations in other districts were nil.
In Kohima district, under the directives of the Angami Public Organisation (APO), its Youth Organisation deployed volunteers at the entry points leading to the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer's office restricting intending candidates from filing nominations.

However, the ruling NPF party today issued tickets to its party candidates for Kohima Municipal Council, including women candidates for the reserved seats at the NPF Central Office here.
In Mokokchung district too, Ao Senden officials along with volunteers and representatives from the Landowners (Lika board), All Ward Union Mokokchung Town guarded the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer's office checking the passage of candidates to file nomination.

According to statement issued by Principal Secretary,
Department of Municipal Affairs, Menukhol John, the cabinet decided that it would be in the best interest of the people and the state to go ahead with the elections to the ULBs with 33 per cent reservation for women as passed by the state government in 2006.
This was also in conformity with Article 243 T which, as it is, has already been in force since 1993, and since it has been found in the last more than two decades that Article 243 T has never infringed on the rights of the Nagas as enshrined in Article 371(A) and that holding of elections to the ULBs with 33% reservation for women too, would not infringe on Article 371(A) of the Constitution, the cabinet observed.

Non holding of elections to the ULBs, as experienced for the last ten years or so, have had adverse effects on the towns and municipalities in matters of development and local self-Governance, and to further keep the elections in abeyance would do more harm than good to these ULBs.
However, for better understanding, it has been decided to have more dialogue and consultations with the tribal organizations in the days to come.
Therefore, the Cabinet has decided that the process of election to the ULBs as notified should be completed.