Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reaffirmed commitment to an early Naga political solution and announced special legislation for Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority.
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KOHIMA — Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday reaffirmed Nagaland government’s commitment to a peaceful and early settlement of the long-pending Naga political issue, while announcing that the government would soon move special legislation for the constitution of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).
Delivering his maiden address during the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at Kohima, the governor said that the government remains steadfast in facilitating efforts towards an honourable solution to the Naga political issue.
“My government remains committed to the peaceful settlement of the Naga political issue,” he said, adding that the state government has constituted a political affairs committee (PAC) comprising all ministers, elected members representing all tribes, representatives of all political parties, and the members of parliament from the state, to give impetus to efforts aimed at achieving an early solution.
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The governor informed the House that the PAC has been reviewing major issues related to the Naga political issue and, to strengthen its engagement, has constituted a sub-committee.
He further disclosed that the chief minister, along with Cabinet colleagues and members of the PAC Sub-committee, recently met the Union home minister and requested the elevation of the ongoing dialogue and peace process through the appointment of an interlocutor at the political or ministerial level to expedite talks and work towards an early and honourable settlement.
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FNTA
Referring to developments in Eastern Nagaland, Bhalla said that on February 5, 2026, the government of Nagaland signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the government of india and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation for the constitution of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority within the state of Nagaland.
Describing the agreement as a testament to the government’s commitment to equitable and inclusive development in Eastern Nagaland, he congratulated the people of the region on what he termed a “momentous milestone.”
He assured the government’s fullest cooperation in advancing progress and development for all sections of society and expressed gratitude to the government of India for its guidance and support leading to the signing of the agreement.
Bhalla said that the state government is working to constitute the interim council for FNTA in consultation with ENPO and the tribal hohos of Eastern Nagaland.
He added that the government will soon move special legislation for the formal constitution of FNTA, in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, as provided under the MoA.
Census
Highlighting another major administrative exercise, the governor spoke about the forthcoming Census, pointing out that the central government had formally notified India’s decennial Census on June 16, 2025.
He informed that Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases — the house listing and housing census, followed by population enumeration in February 2027.
In Nagaland, the first phase will be conducted from July 1 to July 30, 2026, while the option for self-enumeration will be available from June 16 to June 30, 2026.
Bhalla urged members of the House to extend full cooperation to the state administrative machinery and guide all stakeholders to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the Census exercise in Nagaland.