Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, said that the State government was only following the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive to hold the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections.
He said this while addressing the media after presenting the Budget for the financial year 2023-24 on Monday. Referring to the violent incidents of 2017 over holding of ULB polls, Rio mentioned that the State government did not want to confront tribal hohos, civil society organisations or the public on the same issue.
“The government is only following the SC order and if the tribal hohos, CSOs and public do not want to hold it, then the government was not going to confront them like before,” he assured.
He however reminded everyone that Nagaland was not exempted from the 74th Amendment, which pertained to ULB elections, and explained and after the amendment was passed in 2001, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) too decided to follow it. Rio recalled that all tribal bodies, CSOs and NOGs had attended a consultative meeting convened by the State government at the banquet hall of CM residential complex here on March 9, 2022. During the meeting, he said that all the participants had given their consent to hold the ULB polls and also subsequently came to an understanding to remove property tax but not women reservation could.
“But there was no reservation for chairperson and reservation was only for tribals and women and also no mention of percentage in the original, principal law. But this time the complaint came out that it infringes upon Art 371A, demanding repeal of the 74th Amendment,” Rio said. He added saying “There is no point for us to amend, deleting the percentage for chairperson because their demand is in toto, not against article 371A and strict demand of repealing the law and do everything afresh.”
Rio reiterated that the ULB issue cannot be discussed in the Assembly as the government was only following the directive of the Supreme Court.
He said the government has been directed to see that the notification was fully implemented and ensure that no organisation or citizens of the state should obstruct or create problem. “If anything like that happens then it would be a breach of the SC’s order,” he said.
Answering to a query on NSCN (I-M) opposing holding ULB elections on May 16 which coincides with ‘Naga Plebiscite’ Day of 1951, Rio wished not to comment on that and said that the government functions differently.
Opposition-less govt: The chief minister said that discussions were on to finalize the opposition-less government, though the letters of support were already submitted to the governor and the Assembly. Rio also said that he would be holding a meeting with the alliance partner BJP on the issue.