EC in talks with Nagaland political parties over Assembly Election participation
Kohima, Jan 30 (IBNS): The Election Commission is holding an all party meeting in Kohima, Nagaland, on Tuesday in the wake of the decision of several political parties not to participate in the upcoming state Assembly elections, according to media reports.
Nagaland is scheduled to go to the polls on February 27.
Although news of the discontent over participating in the polls has been going around for some time, on Monday, 11 political parties in Nagaland decided not to issue party tickets or file nominations, to press for early solution to the seven-decade-old Naga insurgency issue before the polls, according to media reports.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the core committee of Nagaland Tribal Hoho and Civil Organisations (CCNTCHOC) with the leaders of various political parties, including the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a TOI report said.
At a meeting held in Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, in presence of apex tribal hohos and civil society organisations, all national and regional political parties, including the Congress, BJP and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) declared that will not distribute party tickets either.
Their decision came after the underground insurgent groups- NSCN (IM) and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs)- asked the politicians of Nagaland not to file nomination, media reported.
A a joint statement issued by the attending representatives of the political parties said : "We firmly believe that it is expedient for all political parties, both national and regional, to come together in the greater interest of the state in solidarity with the call for a solution before election and defer the election to the 13th Nagaland 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."
Earlier, a joint statement issued by Kilo Kilonser of NSCN (IM) Hukavi Yepthomi and member of Working committee of NNPGs Alezo Venuh had said that all political parties should should respond positively to ‘Solution, not Election’.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, urged Naga groups and political parties in the state to have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported TOI.
Rijiju also tweeted, "We fully understand the sentiments expressed by the Core Committee of the Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) but election boycott is not the solution. Let's have faith in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's commitment."
He also tweeted, "Holding of timely election is a constitutional process. Govt is bound by the constitution. Govt of India attaches utmost importance to the long pending Naga issue. We believe that peaceful election in Nagaland will facilitate the ongoing peace talks & strengthen our commitment."
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