Responding to the letter submitted by ENPO on Nagaland Municipal issue, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Tuesday clarified that the 15-day ultimatum submitted on December 10, 2016 by the Naga Hoho and ENPO was received and the issue discussed during the cabinet meeting held on December 13, 2016, a DIPR report stated.
The cabinet was of the opinion to go ahead with the civic body polls rather than waiting to wait for the Supreme Court verdict, CMO stated.
In order to apprise the matter, a meeting was held with representatives of both the ENPO and NH at the chief minister’s residence in Dimapur on December 17, 2016 in the presence of the ministers, parliamentary secretaries and other legislators, wherein the state government’s stand was conveyed to the representatives and the issues raised were amply clarified on that day where all understood the matter, CMO stated. It was only after the meeting that the dates to hold the civic body polls were announced (December 21), CMO stated.
In this regard, CMO has urged upon ENPO to kindly appreciate that the government had neither ignored nor did it have the intention to sideline the ultimatum submitted by the Naga Hoho and ENPO. “However, if any misunderstanding has been created on this count it is deeply regretted,” the CMO added.
CMO further reiterated that neither the Nagaland Municipal (3rd amendment) Act 2016 nor 33% women reservation would in any way infringe upon article 371(A) “and the state government stands by this”.
Meanwhile, CMO said the chief minister has appealed to the ENPO to extend their cooperation in peaceful conduct of elections to the ULBs which has been set in motion.