Tikhir organisations demand selected nominee to FNTA

DIMAPUR: The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) has submitted the name of Tsangli Tikhir as its qualified candidate for consideration as the Tikhir interim member to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).
In a letter to president of Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), TTC said Tsangli Tikhir fulfilled the eligibility criteria prescribed by the ENPO for selection of the Tikhir interim member.
TTC said three candidates were considered during a meeting on March 10, 2026– T. Tsusuthong, Tsangli Tikhir and Mark Morekiu. It said Tsusuthong was rejected on grounds of being underage, while Tsangli Tikhir fulfilled the eligibility criteria.
Regarding Morekiu, TTC raised several allegations, including assault cases in 2015, 2023 and 2024, and said FIRs were lodged in connection with the incidents. It also alleged that he was expelled from the tribe for five years in 2021 before being pardoned.
TTC further referred to an alleged 2022 incident, following which the Tikhir Women Union, Kohima, reportedly imposed a fine on Morekiu and another woman.
TTC alleged that despite Tsangli Tikhir fulfilling the prescribed criteria, his candidature was sidelined during the selection process by the dissolved TTC team, which instead recommended Morekiu despite objections and complaints concerning his character, integrity and alleged corruption charges and litigation.
It further alleged that on September 1, 2026, the dissolved TTC team, along with some frontal organisations, unilaterally endorsed Morekiu’s name as Tikhir interim member to FNTA despite a restriction issued by TTC against holding an unauthorised meeting.
TTC said it subsequently nullified the meeting on September 6 through print and social media.
TTC maintained that Tsangli Tikhir was the sole candidate who fulfilled the eligibility criteria framed by the ENPO.
The council also expressed reservations over the fairness and transparency of the selection process, particularly concerning the objections raised regarding the antecedents of candidates and the eligibility criteria.
The letter was signed by TTC president R.T. Kius; executive chairman S. Moa Tikhir; general secretary Wongsuthong and 15 other office-bearers and representatives of the Tikhir community.
TGOA clarifies: Concerned office-bearers and members of the Tikhir Gazetted Officers’ Association (TGOA) have issued a public clarification repudiating what they described as unilateral decisions taken in the name of the association regarding the nomination of Tikhir interim member to the FNTA.
In the clarification, they said the joint letter addressed to ENPO president on March 10, 2026, concerning the nomination was endorsed without consultation, deliberation or consent of TGOA officials and members. They also said the signatures appended by TGOA president and its advisor at the Kiusam Hq. meeting on September 1, 2026, were made without prior internal discussion or authorisation.
The signatories stated that the actions and endorsements made by the individuals in both instances did not represent the official stand of TGOA.
They said that as an intellectual body, TGOA functioned strictly under its established constitutional framework, which defined the working system, powers and responsibilities of its office-bearers.
It said any unilateral action bypassing collective deliberation constituted a breach of the TGOA constitution and was “deeply deplorable”.
The clarification was signed by T.L. Kiusumong Tikhir, general secretary, TGOA; T. Asuthong Tikhir, finance secretary, TGOA and Tikhir representative to ENGOA; N. Joshua Tikhir, member; Lt. Col T. Asuthong, member; T. Kiusu Tikhir, member; Er. Rulin T., member; Er. Atsulem Y., member; T. Isaac Tikhir, member; and S. Limsushu, member.
TGBA: Tikhir Gaon Bura Association (TGBA) has clarified that the signature appended by its president, L.Y. Tokim GB, to the minutes and resolution of the September 1, 2026 meeting of the dissolved Tikhir Tribal Council and frontal organisations at Kiusam Town did not represent the unanimous decision of the association.
In a clarification, TGBA general secretary A.P. Tsupan, GB, said there had been no consultation or deliberation among the association members and that the signature was made in Tokim’s personal capacity and not on behalf of the TGBA.
Tsupan said the clarification was issued to clear public confusion over the meeting resolution, which had been circulating on various social media platforms.