20 eastern Nagaland MLAs defy boycott call, to contest polls

GUWAHATI: Amid the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization's (ENPO)'s call for a poll boycott until the grant of a separate state by the Centre, the 20 sitting legislators of the eastern Nagaland area have jointly declared to contest the election slated to be held on February 27.
The decision was taken by the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) comprising the 20 MLAs.
A statement signed by the 20 MLAs on Monday said, "After a thorough deliberation, the house resolved to participate in the upcoming general election 2023 since it has been notified by the ECI."
The six eastern districts of Nagaland - Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator, which are home to the state's seven tribes, have 20 members in the 60-member state assembly. Under the umbrella of ENPO, seven tribal bodies - Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS), Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC), Konyak Union (KU), Phom People's Council (PPC), United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) and Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC), have decided not to participate in any election process of the state or the Centre until the 'Frontier Nagaland' state is created.
The ENPO, on the other hand, has called an emergency meeting of the central executive council to deliberate on the statehood demand and the election process at Tuensang on Tuesday.
The Centre has formed a three-member committee under the MHA to hold talks with the ENPO on its demand. However, there has not been any breakthrough in their talks yet despite a series of meetings.
Elsewhere in the state on Monday, Kohima district unit of BJP staged a demonstration outside the party's state office expressing displeasure with the BJP-NDPP seat-sharing arrangement (20 for BJP and 40 for NDPP). The BJP unit wants at least one more seat for the party.
Hundreds of party workers, led by BJP Kohima district president Khrielie Usou, sat on a dharna endorsing the candidature of former MLA Kropol Vitsu to represent the alliance seat in Southern Angami-II constituency. Usou said in the 2018 election, party's former president Visasolie Lhoungu, had to sacrifice his candidature to make way for Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio.