Nagaland govt calls for consensus on FNTA talks

The state government has reiterated its call for consensus among all stakeholders engaged in the ongoing negotiation process of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).
Addressing the media here, government spokesperson and minister K.G. Kenye emphasized that any new administrative arrangement must remain within the framework of Article 371(A) of the Constitution.
Kenye said it had been almost a year since the talks transitioned from a bilateral discussion between the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to a trilateral dialogue involving the state government.
He stated that for more than a decade, the state government was “kept in the dark” as discussions were confined to ENPO and MHA.
However, after extensive Cabinet deliberations under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio, the present government decided that since the issue pertained to the state’s geopolitical territory, every citizen had the right to be informed about developments in all parts of Nagaland, including the eastern region.
Kenye said that after joining the dialogue, the state gained a clearer understanding of the discussions held over the past decade.
While acknowledging that the government’s involvement came “late in the day,” he said corrective interventions were made wherever necessary and feasible.
Following wide-ranging consultations with mass-based organisations and stakeholders, Kenye said the state government formulated certain recommendations that would be “acceptable to both sides” once the FNTA is established. The government also requested the Centre to share details of the negotiations so that they could be reviewed in light of the state’s constitutional and administrative responsibilities.
He disclosed that several sub-committees and nodal officers were constituted, and subject-matter experts engaged to review key issues. Based on their findings, the state submitted its views to the Centre, recommending amendments, additions, and deletions as needed to balance the aspirations of the eastern region with the interests of the state.
However, he revealed that the Centre has recently returned the state’s earlier recommendations for further review and additional inputs from the ENPO. The Cabinet, he said, had deliberated on the matter and noted a “slight gap in communication” between the ENPO and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU).
Calling this gap a “matter of serious concern,” Kenye urged both the ENPO and ENLU to hold more consultations so that elected representatives are fully informed. “The leaders from the eastern territory must be more seriously engaged,” he said. “If matters are finalized without their consent or proper consultation, and unpleasant surprises emerge later, it would be very unfortunate for all concerned.”
He reminded that the 20 legislators from the ENPO region were elected representatives and not self-appointed leaders, and therefore must be kept abreast of all developments. “Whatever is being negotiated today is for the same people and the same land. There should be more understanding, coherence, and unanimity among them while resolving their points,” he added.
Kenye further stated that while the FNTA framework remains under discussion, the proposal is unique—neither a Union Territory, another state, nor an entity under the Sixth Schedule or the earlier Regional Council model of the 1960s and 70s. “It is a new experience for all of us,” he said. “But it must exist within the ambit of Article 371(A).”
He cautioned that while addressing the aspirations of the eastern people, the state government cannot abdicate its responsibility as custodian of all citizens and territories. “Whatever name or shape the new entity takes, it will still remain part of the state,” he said, adding that Nagaland’s territorial integrity will remain intact.
Kenye informed that the state government was currently reviewing its earlier recommendations and will forward them to the Centre only after ENPO and ENLU arrive at a mutual understanding. “There is no fixed timeline,” he said, “and the state will give them enough time.”
He also identified key departments—such as Power, Health & Family Welfare, and Education—where the state believes management should remain with the government for now.
Citing the Power department as an example, he explained that since it operates primarily on centrally sponsored schemes, transferring its management to the FNTA could be financially unviable. “The revenue from electricity consumption alone could consume almost the entire development budget,” he cautioned.
Kenye added that similar challenges exist in other departments and that the government has requested officials to help ENPO leaders understand these practical constraints.
On the issue of miscommunication, he said it partly relates to the “division of powers and roles” between existing and proposed structures, calling it a “sensitive and tricky” matter. “We have 20 legislators from the region who will also be members of the new entity,” he said. “If they are not aware of what is happening in their own territories, how will they remain answerable to their electorates and to the State Assembly?”
He concluded by assuring that the entire process is being pursued in good faith and that nothing in it is against the interests of the state or its people. “We hope Delhi will be kind enough,” he said, “and within the spirit of Article 371(A), grant the autonomy and enhancement that our people deserve.”