TGOA refutes allegations on FNTA member selection

DIMAPUR: Tikhir Gazetted Officers’ Association (TGOA) has taken serious note of a statement issued by nine members of the association under the caption “Public Disclaimer and Clarification” and refuted allegations that its representatives acted without consultation, authorisation or in violation of the association’s constitution.
TGOA vice-president Yongchem, joint secretary P. Tochumong, information secretary Tsutsekiu Y. Tikhir, joint secretary Apong and advisor Supanthong said the allegation that the joint letter addressed to the ENPO president on March 10, 2026, regarding the selection of the Tikhir interim member to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), was endorsed without consultation, deliberation or consent of the association’s officials and members was “completely incorrect”.
TGOA said the meeting circular issued by the Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) on March 7 was duly circulated by its president in the official TGOA WhatsApp group the same day, inviting members to share their views and attend the meeting.
It said TGOA team that reached the village on March 9 also held a meeting and deliberated on the selection of the FNTA interim member. Accordingly, the association’s decision was conveyed telephonically to the general secretary by the president the following morning in the presence of other members, to which the general secretary agreed.
TGOA said the meeting convened by TTC on March 10 at Anatongre village was attended by representatives of various organisations and village chiefs, and that its representatives endorsed the joint letter in accordance with the deliberations and position arrived at during the meeting.
It clarified that the attendance of TGOA members at the meeting was neither unilateral nor unauthorised, stating that the matter had been discussed through telephonic consultations among the president, general secretary, some office bearers and members. It added that the attendance of every member was neither required nor practicable and that the inability of some members to attend could not render the participation or representation of TGOA representatives unauthorised. On the Kiusam headquarters meeting held on September 1, 2026, TGOA said the allegation that the signatures of its president and advisor were made without prior knowledge or authorisation “does not arise”.
According to the association, TTC meeting circular was circulated by the TGOA president in the official WhatsApp group on August 30, inviting members to attend. The president, advisor and other members subsequently attended and represented the association in their respective official capacities.
TGOA said the September 1 meeting was primarily held to reaffirm and reiterate the position arrived at during the March 10 meeting at Anatongre village. It further claimed that no objection or contrary position had been raised by any member before the association, and said the raising of objections only at this stage, particularly alongside the position taken by the “self-styled group” through the print media, while bypassing TGOA Constitution, warranted scrutiny.
Rejecting the allegation of unilateral action and constitutional violation, TGOA cited Article 7.1(b) of its Constitution, which provides that the president “shall act/represent the Association at the appropriate platforms.”
It said the president had duly circulated the March 7 TTC meeting notice in the official WhatsApp group and subsequently attended the Anatongre meeting along with some officials and members, as empowered by TGOA Constitution. Therefore, TGOA said the question of taking unilateral action as claimed by some of its members does not arise in any manner.
TGOA said members were free to express disagreement but institutional grievances should be addressed through institutional channels.
“Accordingly, we hereby affirm that we stand by the position stated above and by the duly authorised actions, representations and decisions undertaken on behalf of the Association,” it stated.