DIMAPUR, Jan 7 (Newmai News Network): Confusion reigns among the people of Nagaland as to whether the state assembly elections will be held or not.
Although the Election Commission of India had already said that elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections would be conducted by March 18, political parties and frontal organizations are pressing to defer the assembly elections saying that the government of India should focus at the moment on Naga issue and not on elections.
Two days after the Naga Hoho submitted a lengthy memorandum to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Dimapur; the Congress, BJP, NCP, JD(U), RJD and Trinamool Congress have apprised the Prime Minister through a detailed joint representation for the deferment of the Nagaland assembly elections due by March 18. These parties want that New Delhi gives more importance to the ongoing Naga peace talks and not the elections stating that the Naga people have been waiting for a solution and not elections.
Earlier on Friday, the Naga Hoho had apprised the ECI to withhold the Nagaland assembly elections saying a `Naga solution` should precede elections. The Naga Hoho in its memorandum to the ECI had stated that it was not the right time to hold elections in Nagaland as the entire Naga people are longing for the settlement of the vexed Naga political issue.
In a situation like this, no political party nor any candidate has dared to drum up the election euphoria though some politicians have been campaigning for the forth coming polls in a subtle manner.
With this given situation, the general public have been wondering what is actually in store.
The reasons that have brought the people to the confused state of affairs are numerous: the crack in the Joint Legislature Forum (JLF); starting of election process by the Election Commission of India; the Naga Hoho and political parties various appraising to the Central leadership to defer the elections and the non-starter of campaigning in Nagaland by the candidates as well as by the political parties.
Meanwhile, observers feel that since the Election Commission of India has started the election process in the state, elections to the Nagaland legislative assembly are bound to happen.
“We have to conduct at the assembly elections in Nagaland before March 18,” said V.S.Sampath, the Chief Election Commissioner of India while addressing the media at Police Complex, Chumukedima in Dimapur on January 4.
A complete team of ECI had met top bureaucrats of the state and the leaders of political parties during their visit in Nagaland on Juanuary 3 and 4. V.S. Sampath further said he had instructed all the district magistrates in Nagaland to start preparing for the assembly elections.