Dimapur, Jan. 4: The Angami Public Organisation (APO) has convened ‘a consultative meeting’ of ‘all the intending candidates, irrespective of tribe, for the forthcoming elections to the Kohima Municipal Council’ with APO executive members at APO Hall, Kohima on Thursday at 4 pm.
This was decided during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday. “Any intending candidates to urban local bodies in other districts, belonging to the Angami community, are also asked to attend the meeting…Those intending candidates who fail to attend the said meeting shall be held responsible for any eventuality.”
It warned that any Angami citizen who violates the APO directive and file nomination papers to urban local bodies in any district would be expelled from Angami jurisdiction for a period of 10 years. “All the village council chairmen are directed not to allow any intending candidate hailing from their village to file their nomination. All the range units of the APO (CPO, NAPO, SAPO and WAPO) are directed to inform the village councils under their respective range,” it stated.
In a separate statement, the Northern Angami Public Organisation (NAPO) informed that it has resolved to ‘support and stand firmly on APO decision to go against ULB elections with 33% reservation’ for women. It has directed its members to abide by the decision of the APO.
The Angami Student’s Union (ASU) has also extended support ‘to the ongoing APO and AYO directive of upholding the nomination of any intending candidates to the ULB election’. A press release from the union expressed dismay at the cabinet decision to go ahead with the electioneering process ‘instead of addressing the volatile situation.’
“The Union extend its support to APO on the issue and will remain vigilant on any untoward incidents,” it stated.
