NPF refutes Supongmeren’s councillor ‘poaching’ charge

DIMAPUR, SEP 28 (NPN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) has refuted allegations by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president and Lok Sabha MP, S Supongmeren Jamir, that the party was “poaching” elected members of town and municipal councils, saying councillors who had joined or extended support to NPF had done so voluntarily.
NPF through its press bureau said elected representatives had the right to make their own political choices and that such decisions could not be termed “poaching”. It challenged the Congress to produce evidence of coercion, inducement or other unlawful acts before the appropriate authority rather than make allegations through the media.
NPF also hit back at Supongmeren Jamir’s criticism of councillors allegedly joining for money or development projects, saying such remarks undermined the integrity and independent judgment of elected grassroots representatives.
The party accused the Congress of having lost public support in Nagaland and urged NPCC leadership to introspect over the reasons behind the departure of its grassroots leaders. It maintained that elected members remained accountable to the voters who elected them and that their mandate was not the property of any political party.
NPF said it remained committed to inclusive development and to strengthening town and municipal councils to serve people without discrimination, while promoting stability and unity.
On the Naga political dialogue, the NPF welcomed the appointment of retired IPS officer and former Joint Intelligence Committee chairman Ajit Lal as the new interlocutor, describing renewed political-level engagement as significant.
The party recalled the resolution adopted on September 12, 2024, at a meeting attended by Naga civil society organisations, churches and elected representatives, including the two Lok Sabha MPs. The resolution had called for the dialogue and peace process to be elevated to the ministerial or political level and sought an interlocutor with the confidence and mandate of the Government of India.
Against this backdrop, NPF criticised Supongmeren Jamir’s description of Lal’s appointment as a “disgrace”, saying he had himself been a signatory to the 2024 resolution.
NPF said the appointment represented an opportunity for renewed political engagement and expressed hope that the new interlocutor would engage all Naga political groups and other stakeholders with “sincerity, sensitivity and a clear understanding” of the historical and political complexities of the issue.
It said the Naga political issue had remained unresolved for decades and that the objective of all stakeholders should be a peaceful, honourable, inclusive and enduring settlement.
The party called upon the political parties to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements and contribute to an environment conducive to peace, reconciliation and development in Nagaland.