Dimapur, Jan. 23: Tribal organizations are intensifying their opposition to the municipal and town council elections by organizing various action plans to push across their message.
The Lotha Hoho has formally announced boycott of the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections and, in said connection, announced a ‘ban’ on polling stations besides issuing a call to mobilize volunteers to enforce said action.
The Lotha Hoho issued a press release on Monday listing out a number of activities, including a bandh and rally in Wokha and Bhandari town. The organization informed to have convened an emergency meeting of the Lotha Hoho, Lotha frontal organization, Join Action Committee, and leaders of colonies and wards, and intending candidates ‘irrespective of political party.’ The meeting was conducted on January 23 at the LTC Hall in Wokha town.
The community discussed matters that resulted in a number of decisions related to the urban local body elections in the district.
During the meeting the following resolutions were adopted.
“The house resolved not to participate in the ULBs election scheduled to be held on 1st Feb 2017 and further appeal to the state government to differ and rectify the Municipal Act. The Hoho will stand a deaf ear until their appeal is not resolved (sic),” the first decision from the meeting stated.
The leaders also resolved that, in case of any proxy and voting done through Postal Ballot / Election Duty Certificates, the “Lotha public” shall not accept or recognize “his or her candidature and will declare (them) null and void.”
Another resolution was that the colony chairman and leaders besides intending candidates to monitor and “take control of their own respective ward / colonies not to allow any person to enter the polling station.”
The organization has also announced a total bandh in Wokha and Bhandari town starting from January 31 till the 1st of February, from 6:00 am till 6:00 pm.In this connection, colony youth leaders and chairmen are directed to send a minimum of 20 volunteers each to the “LHJAC.” The list of volunteers is to be submitted by January 27. Further, there will be a “car rally against the ULB election” on January 28 right after a public rally scheduled to be held at the local ground in Wokha town.
These villages in and around Wokha town are requested to send youth volunteers on February 1: Wokha village and Longsa village (50 volunteers from each); Humtsoe village, Elumyo village, Longsachung village, Niroyo village and Pongitong village (20 volunteers from each).
Rengma Hoho joins boycott
The Rengma Hoho has also announced boycott of said elections. The organization issued a press release on Monday calling for wider consultations on the municipal and town council polls.
The Rengma Hoho sat for a meeting with political parties and intending candidates on January 23 in Tseminyu town, the note stated. “While observing the backdrop of the chaotic situation that has emerged out of the Reservation in ULB election by the state government. The Rengma Hoho maintained that the decision has created division amongst the Naga society and distorted the social relationships amongst the brethrens,” the organization stated. “Therefore, the consultative meeting decided to boycott the ensuing ULB election 2017 as this had gone against the will of the general Nagas.”
The Rengma Hoho has directed intending candidates in the community’s jurisdiction to ‘refrain’ from contesting the elections.
“The Rengma Hoho while having concerned upon the situation and social unrest among the brethrens has appeal to the state government to reconsider its decision to save from the embarrassing situation which may damage the image of the Naga society at large,” the note stated.
The organization suggested that the Nagaland state government should invite all “stakeholders, intellectuals and scholars” for wider consultations “as none could give any convincing answer to this particular issue.”
