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Nagaland is in for another election just a few weeks after the polling for the lone seat to the Lok Sabha was held in the first phase of the ongoing general election, with the State Election Commission having announced the schedule for the much-delayed polls to the urban local bodies (ULBs) – three municipal councils and 36 town councils. The stage is now set for polling on June 26 and the model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force. The votes will be counted on June 29. The election to ULBs will draw much attention for more reasons than one. Firstly, it will be conducted after two decades, which means a chunk of young people will get the opportunity to participate in the civic body polls. Secondly, the state government had earlier run into troubled waters following public objections to the 33 per cent seat reservation for women and taxation on property. Having faced violence, including loss of lives in connection with the attempt to hold polls to the ULBs, the state government was more cautious and took its sweet time despite being pulled up by the Supreme Court at regular intervals for not holding the election as per its directive. Considering the complexities involved, the state government did a commendable job by passing the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, after extensive consultations with civil society organisations and tribal bodies. In the amended Act, the one-third seat reservation for women was kept intact, while the contentious provision regarding the offices of the chairperson was excluded. Besides that, the clause pertaining to taxes on land and buildings was omitted. It was a win-win deal, as it paved the way for elections to the ULBs.
While it was good that the fears of the public have been cleared now, the delay in conducting civic body polls has no doubt cost the state big, and this is evident from the lack of basic amenities including water supply, sanitation, infrastructure and several other facilities. Urban areas like Dimapur and Kohima are becoming unmanageable due to a lack of funds amid a growing population. The state should not have taken this long to conduct the ULB election but it’s better late than never. Given the constitutional status via the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992, the role of municipalities in framing developmental policies, implementation of schemes and effective governance of urban settlements is immense. These self-governing administrative units have access to their own funds, as they have several sources of revenue in the form of tax and non-tax, grant-in-aid from the state and central governments, among others. This enables them to look into public amenities and welfare activities. However, Nagaland has been deprived of this benefit for two decades. But now that the elections to ULBs will be held next month, much of the issues like garbage management, water scarcity, poor public infrastructure, etc. faced by the people living in towns should be addressed. It should usher in a new era of growth and access to basic amenities. The public, on its part, should ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully and thereafter act as a watchdog to ensure that the councillors serve the people diligently.