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Leaders and members of the Lotha community seen here during the meeting.[/caption]
Dimapur, Jan. 8: Organisations representing the Lotha community in Wokha town have resolved that all intending candidates, who have filed nominations to the Urban Local Bodies, or municipal, elections, at Wokha town and Bhandari town, are to withdraw their nominations “immediately.”
A meeting of public leaders of Wokha town, surrounding villages, Lotha frontal organisations, including the Kohima Lotha Hoho and Dimapur Lotha Hoho, was convened by the Lotha Hoho in the Town Hall of the town on January 8.
The meeting, which began from 2: 00 PM, deliberated on the imbroglio surrounding the scheduled elections to the municipal and town councils of the state.
The organisations deliberated on the various provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 “that infringe on the provisions of Article 371A, of the Indian Constitution,” a press press release from the Lotha Hoho on Sunday stated.
“Many of the leaders including many candidates, agreed to support the decision of the Naga organisations and to safeguard the provisions of Article 371A, for the good of the Naga future generation,” the press release asserted.
“The house unanimously decided and resolved that all the intending candidates, who have filed nomination for the ULB election, at Wokha and Bhandari towns, are to withdraw their nominations, immediately.”
The president, Mhao Humtsoe, and general secretary Mhondamo Ovung, of the Lotha Hoho appended the press release.
Our correspondent adds:
The Lotha Hoho today conducted a general meeting at Wokha town Hall where a good number of public member and leaders attended the meeting. They raised their hands and accepted the organisation’s decision with concern at the Municipal Act of 2001.
The tacit decision was that the Lotha people will stand to oppose the Municipal Act and would not accept any Lotha candidates contesting the municipal polls until further amendment to said Act.
The organisation also called upon Lotha intending candidates to cooperate with the decision.
Leaders of the Lotha Hoho of Kohima, Dimapur, and the Lotha Youth Hoho, Lotha Eloe (women) Hoho, Lotha Students' Union and other Lotha frontal organisations attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, following the decision, the lone candidate who filed his nominations yesterday was the first person to withdraw his nomination papers.
Public meeting in Chumukedima
Public of Chumukedima town has convened a meeting with the intending candidates for the ensuing Chummukedima Town Council (CTC) elections at the local ground on January 9 at 10 a.m. With the ongoing tussle to forgo ULB elections, it was likely that candidates would be asked to withdraw their nomination papers. It may be mentioned that four women had file nomination papers for the CTC elections out of the total 14 candidates.
