NPF on Wednesday disclosed that fifteen intending women candidates were vying for the party tickets for the eight reserved wards under Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
Altogether NPF received 50 applications seeking party tickets for the 23 wards out of which eight wards– 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21– have been reserved under 33% women quota.
The Municipal/Town Council election is slated to be held on February 1, 2017.
On Wednesday, an introductory programme for NPF intending candidates was held at SM College auditorium at Landmark Colony, wherein PHED minister Tokheho Yepthomi addressed the gathering.
While encouraging the indenting candidates to remain committed to the party, Tokheho urged them not to lose hope even if they failed to get the party ticket. Those who fail to get the tickets, the party would offer other assignments, he added.
Tokheho also explained why the state government decided to hold the Municipal and Town Council election by reserving 33% seats for women despite strong opposition from various organizations and “unforeseen forces”.
He said the state government’s stand was to encourage and promote womenfolk from participating in the decision making bodies.
In this regard, Tokheho urged the men group, strongly opposed to women quota, to reconsider their decision, saying “women are our wives, sisters and daughters”.
Tokheho also informed that reservation of seats would be on rotational basis. He said in the next elections the reserved wards would be open, where women would have to fight openly.
He further urged the candidates not to shift their wards/constituencies.
Tokheho called upon the partymen to workhard, stating that the municipal and town council election was a semi-final for the NPF party, in the run up to the general election due in 2018-incase the final settlement to the Naga issue is not arrived at by then.
Earlier, the intending candidates were administered pledge by NPF Dimapur division president, I. Nungsang Jaimir.
Meanwhile, in response on the decision of Medziphema Village Council (MVC) to boycott the civic polls in view of the 33% women reservation, Tokheho appealed MVC to honour the stand made by Angami Public Organization (APO).
According to Tokheho, APO’s stand was that the provision of seat for Schedule Caste in the municipal department should be deleted.
He said APO raised this suggestion at the consultative meeting on Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 and Amendment Act held on November 16. In the light of the above, Tokheho urged MVC to review its decision on civic polls.
Monday, February 23, 2026