SAYS NOT A BIG DEAL FOR GOI TO POSTPONE POLLS
State Health and Family welfare minister, Imkong L. Imchen on Wednesday asserted that it was not a “big deal” on the part of Government of India to defer the state Assembly elections temporarily based on the constitutional provisions.
“Proposal for postponement of election is not a big deal when we compare with the Naga political issue,” Imchen said while addressing media persons here at Hotel Saramati Dimapur.
He said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on December 15, 2017 had also passed a resolution to urge the Centre to take emergent and extraordinary steps for an honourable and acceptable solution to the Naga political issue before the assembly polls slated to be held by February end next year.
As such, Imchen said the Government of India under extra ordinary situation has the ability to defer elections. “It should be rather inclusive of the process that is being initiated at present”, he added.
He also clarified that there was no question of “boycotting” the election, but that it was only a proposal to the government of India to defer the election.
“Since, we have taken oath of allegiance and secrecy under the Constitution of India, and therefore, if the Election Commission of India goes ahead with the election, we have to file nominations”, he added. He also claimed that holding election would bring division and bitterness within the Nagas.
Reminding that it was only a matter of time before the signing the final settlement, Imchen therefore urged upon Nagas not miss this opportunity or else he said “we will have a historical regret”.
Imchen reiterated that there was no use of conducting elections when the solution was near. He also suggested that the present government be allowed to finish its tenure and after which President’s Rule could be imposed so as to allow the Naga nationalist groups to hold talks independently with the Government of India to usher in solution.
Pointing out that talk was in the final stage and on the right track, Imchen appealed to NNC and NSCN (K) to join the negotiating process. He said that there “will be no two or three agreements, but only one solution”.
Imchen also said that Nagas should be thankful to the quality leadership provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially in the context of the Naga political issue. At the same time we must also be grateful to “Th. Muivah and the leaders of the NNPGs” for their bold and courageous decision to bring a political settlement, Imchen added.
Meanwhile, as per indications, notification for election to Nagaland Legislative Assembly could be announced sometime during third week of January 2018 and polling sometime in the last week of February 2018. The date of announcement of poll schedule is made 45 days before polling.
It may also be pointed out that the elected members have been pressing for postponement of election and which was also adopted and passed as a resolution by the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on December 15, 2017 during the recent winter session.
The negotiation for solution to the Naga political issue has been widened by the participation of the Working Committee formed by Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs).
According to sources, the process for finalisation of the agreement is not likely to be achieved so early. They said final agreement will be achieved only after a process that could take months. The ECI has also gone ahead in setting the election machinery in motion as a precursor to the conduct of the 2018 assembly elections along with Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura in the North East.