The NDPP-BJP alliance government in Nagaland has initiated steps to ensure voters from eastern Nagaland do not boycott the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in the state.

To begin with, the Nagaland cabinet, headed by Neiphiu Rio, on Saturday
held a meeting with members of the Eastern Nagaland Legislative Union (ENLU) in
Kohima and discussed the issue related to “participation” in the upcoming polls and “ensuring representation of all voices within the political process”.

The cabinet and the ENLU subsequently also issued a joint appeal to the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) “not to abstain” from the April 19 polls “but to participate in the elections and complete our democratic duty for the greater benefit of the region and its constituents”.

The ENPO is the apex body of seven tribes living in the eastern region and has been demanding a separate state comprising the six districts owing to “neglect” of the area over the years. The demand was first raised in 2010.

The ENLU has 20 MLAs representing eastern Nagaland spread over six of the 16 districts in the state. Of the 20 MLAs, there are four BJP and five NDPP MLAs.

The ENPO had said after its March 28 meeting with ENLU members in Tuensang that they would not allow any electioneering in areas under their jurisdiction till the BJP-led Centre met their demand for a Frontier Nagaland Territory, an autonomous
region.

On Saturday, the ENLU briefed the cabinet on their recent trip to Delhi followed by their subsequent meeting with the ENPO in Tuensang.

A government statement said yesterday’s meeting also noted that “upon the installation of the new popular government in the Centre, a conducive atmosphere will be created for further negotiation of ENPO’s demands”.

“In light of the above, the cabinet and ENLU members make an earnest appeal to
the ENPO and its constituents, to prioritise the democratic principles and ensure widest possible participation in the upcoming national elections in order to pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for eastern Nagaland,” the government statement said.

Nagaland has one Lok Sabha seat and three candidates are in the fray.