The BJP-led Center appears to have successfully addressed a major issue that had threatened to cast a shadow over the polls at the February 27 Nagaland assembly. The influential East Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) has finally withdrawn its call for an election boycott after discussions with central government representatives.
Neglected by successive governments, eastern Nagaland bordering Myanmar is one of the most backward regions of India. For more than a decade, ENPO has spearheaded a movement calling for a separate state, which it believed would help usher in development and prosperity in the region.
Eastern Nagaland comprising six districts – Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Tuensang, Shamator and Noklak – is home to seven tribes including the Konyaks who are proud of their warrior tradition. Some of these tribes share ethnic ties with the Nagas in Myanmar.
The six districts together account for 45% of Nagaland’s population, but have only 20 members in the state legislature. In comparison, tribes such as the Ao, Angami and Sema have greater say and representation in the political-bureaucratic domain.
In December, an ENPO delegation met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, during which he allegedly promised an amicable solution to his request. But the BJP, which is a junior partner in the Neiphiu Rio-led coalition government in Nagaland, may have realized that a separate state was not feasible as it would further complicate the already stalled Naga peace process involving the NSCN ( IM).
The rebel group, which had signed a framework agreement with the Modi government in 2015, stressed the need for unity among all Naga tribes for a permanent solution to the Naga political issue.
Given this situation, the Center had to come up with an intelligent strategy during the negotiations with the ENPO. ENPO reached an agreement on regional autonomy during a two-day meeting with an Interior Ministry panel led by AK Mishra, who is also the interlocutor of the Naga Talks Centre, one person told TOI that familiar with the matter. The talks took place in Guwahati and concluded on 31 January.
This will pave the way for the creation of an autonomous council for the six districts of East Nagaland. ENPO leaders have asked that development funds released by the Center go directly to the proposed council, and not through the state government.
While the finer details of the deal have yet to be worked out, the ENPO on February 4 decided to withdraw its call for an electoral boycott. The umbrella body of seven tribal organizations had passed a resolution in August last year to boycott the 2023 assembly polls if its call for “Frontier Nagaland” was not met.
“Following the request by the MHA to revise the resolution of 26 August 2022 of the ENPO and its constituent tribal bodies and front organizations to refrain from any electoral process and the subsequent assurance given by the Union Home Minister to the ENPO officials on February 2, the ENPO … hereby relaxed the resolution of August 26, 2022 with immediate effect,” the ENPO told local media.
Welcoming the announcement, Union Home Secretary Amit Shah tweeted“It is encouraging that in an expression of confidence in the Modi government, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization (ENPO) in Nagaland has withdrawn its call to boycott the assembly elections. The decision will help keep the ongoing peace and development process unimpeded.”
Some observers believe that the Modi government will try to resolve as many outstanding issues as possible ahead of the 2024 national elections. With the Center attaching high priority to the North Eastan autonomous council for eastern Nagaland may soon become a reality.
Neglected by successive governments, eastern Nagaland bordering Myanmar is one of the most backward regions of India. For more than a decade, ENPO has spearheaded a movement calling for a separate state, which it believed would help usher in development and prosperity in the region.
Eastern Nagaland comprising six districts – Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Tuensang, Shamator and Noklak – is home to seven tribes including the Konyaks who are proud of their warrior tradition. Some of these tribes share ethnic ties with the Nagas in Myanmar.
The six districts together account for 45% of Nagaland’s population, but have only 20 members in the state legislature. In comparison, tribes such as the Ao, Angami and Sema have greater say and representation in the political-bureaucratic domain.
In December, an ENPO delegation met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, during which he allegedly promised an amicable solution to his request. But the BJP, which is a junior partner in the Neiphiu Rio-led coalition government in Nagaland, may have realized that a separate state was not feasible as it would further complicate the already stalled Naga peace process involving the NSCN ( IM).
The rebel group, which had signed a framework agreement with the Modi government in 2015, stressed the need for unity among all Naga tribes for a permanent solution to the Naga political issue.
Given this situation, the Center had to come up with an intelligent strategy during the negotiations with the ENPO. ENPO reached an agreement on regional autonomy during a two-day meeting with an Interior Ministry panel led by AK Mishra, who is also the interlocutor of the Naga Talks Centre, one person told TOI that familiar with the matter. The talks took place in Guwahati and concluded on 31 January.
This will pave the way for the creation of an autonomous council for the six districts of East Nagaland. ENPO leaders have asked that development funds released by the Center go directly to the proposed council, and not through the state government.
While the finer details of the deal have yet to be worked out, the ENPO on February 4 decided to withdraw its call for an electoral boycott. The umbrella body of seven tribal organizations had passed a resolution in August last year to boycott the 2023 assembly polls if its call for “Frontier Nagaland” was not met.
“Following the request by the MHA to revise the resolution of 26 August 2022 of the ENPO and its constituent tribal bodies and front organizations to refrain from any electoral process and the subsequent assurance given by the Union Home Minister to the ENPO officials on February 2, the ENPO … hereby relaxed the resolution of August 26, 2022 with immediate effect,” the ENPO told local media.
Welcoming the announcement, Union Home Secretary Amit Shah tweeted“It is encouraging that in an expression of confidence in the Modi government, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization (ENPO) in Nagaland has withdrawn its call to boycott the assembly elections. The decision will help keep the ongoing peace and development process unimpeded.”
Some observers believe that the Modi government will try to resolve as many outstanding issues as possible ahead of the 2024 national elections. With the Center attaching high priority to the North Eastan autonomous council for eastern Nagaland may soon become a reality.
