The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Naga tribes in Manipur, has barred newly-elected Congress MP Alfred Kangnam Arthur and two others “from public platforms, and holding any position or leadership in the Naga society” for a period of seven years with immediate effect.

The decision to debar Arthur, belonging to the Tangkhul Naga tribe, and the two Independent candidates S. Kho John (Poumai tribe) and Allyson Abonmai (Liangmai tribe) was adopted at an “emergency Assembly” of the UNC held at the town hall at Panchai in Chandel district on May 29.

A UNC public notification issued on June 13 said the trio “purposively defied and failed to respect and honour to the position of the United Naga Council in the recently concluded 18th Lok Sabha General Election 2024 and their willful attempt to challenge the Naga peoples’ position and its spirit of unity are hereby debarred from public platforms, and holding any position or leadership in the Naga society for a period of seven (7) years with immediate effect”.

The UNC further directed “all the constituent units, subordinate/associate units of the Council and Naga populace” to uphold its resolution “and enforce (it) accordingly in their respective jurisdictions.”

Those in the know said the UNC had decided in October to push for a consensus Naga candidate so that the Naga votes would not get divided.

The Kukis did not field any candidate from Outer Manipur in protest against the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state but backed the Congress candidate Arthur who had a tough time campaigning because of attempts by armed miscreants to disrupt his rallies. At least three of his rallies were disrupted by miscreants who fired blanks to scare the participants.