ABAM brings 373 Ao council leaders together in Impur to discuss electoral malpractice and promote clean elections across Nagaland.
IMPUR — A total of 373 village and urban ward council leaders from across Mokokchung district gathered at Impur on Friday for a consultative discussion on promoting clean elections and addressing electoral malpractices.
The discussion, organised by the Social Concern Ministry of Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM), brought together yimten yimsüsers (council members and ward authority members) representing 56 villages and 16 town wards at the Centennial Hall, Impur.
The meeting sought to involve grassroots leaders in finding practical ways to ensure elections free from undue influence, intimidation, inducement and other practices that undermine the democratic process and the common good.
In his welcome address, ABAM Executive Secretary Rev. Temsü Jamir said election-related issues remained among the most critical challenges confronting society and required collective efforts from all sections to curb malpractices that were eroding the social fabric.
Recalling the early years of electoral politics in Nagaland, Jamir noted that the first political parties, the Naga National Organisation (NNO) and United Democratic Front (UDF), emerged and electioneering began.
He added that from 1969, electoral process was soon marred by turmoil, brawls, bloodshed, vote-buying and polling booth coups. In response, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) issued a call in 1973 urging churches to uphold fair elections in accordance with electoral norms.
Building on this foundation, Jamir said that ABAM had continued its efforts towards clean elections. He informed that two Clean Election Coordinators had been appointed for a five-year term to spearhead the initiative through prayerful deliberation.
Jamir stressed that the campaign could not succeed without the active participation of village and ward council members. He said ABAM had invited representatives from every village and urban colony to listen to their views and counsel and work out practical solutions for clean elections.
The main speaker, Dr. Panger Kichu of Oriental Theological Seminary, Dimapur, addressed the gathering on the theme “Election Meruka Agiyim” (Initiation for a Clean Election).
Kichu observed that other Naga tribes often looked to the Aos for leadership, but said the Ao community had at times become so entangled in various situations that it had failed to lead by example.
He asserted that the Ao community must take responsibility for addressing its own shortcomings and pointed out that many election malpractices had originated among the Aos.
Kichu challenged the council leaders to ensure that reforms in electioneering began within the community. He also said that, apart from NBCC and ABAM, no other organised group was actively working for the Clean Election campaign.
He called for a like-minded voluntary group to emerge from Ao land to carry the initiative forward and urged the Ao people to produce tangible results and champion clean elections across Nagaland.