ENLU decides to participate in Nagaland assembly elections, despite ENPO’s ‘Poll Boycott’ call

The big development comes after the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), held a crucial emergency meeting today to deliberate on the issue.

The Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union has decided to participate in the ensuing assembly elections. This is a very significant development since the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) had resolved to abstain from participating in the assembly elections if the demand for creation of Frontier Nagaland remains unfulfilled.

The big development comes after the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), held a crucial emergency meeting today to deliberate on the issue.

This is significant because the legislators from the Eastern Nagaland, (who are part of ENLU) are from the region where ENPO is considered to be the apex body of the seven tribes living in the Eastern Nagaland region and ENPO had asked its legislators to stay away from any kind of poll campaigning and stay away from the upcoming polls.

After thorough deliberation on the ENPO Resolution to abstain from the Assembly elections, the ENLU resolved to participate in the upcoming general election since the Election has been notified by the ECI.
As per inputs, a resolution to this effect has been signed by all 20 Eastern MLAs.

It may be mentioned that on December 6, a crucial meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the ENPO had concluded successfully, as stated by the ENPO in a press statement issued soon after the meeting.

In the meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had highlighted a clear road-map for amicable, legislative and sustainable solution for Eastern Nagaland. Apart from this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also assured the ENPO talk team that he would visit Eastern Nagaland personally by January 2023 and move ahead with the future course of action.

Besides, the ENPO had stated that the Union Home Minister appreciated the Eastern Nagaland people for being a part of the nation building thus far, which, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has always been mentioning and appreciating. Amit Shah further in the meeting had acknowledged that the grievances and request for a separate entity is understood.

Although the Union Home Minister had visited the poll bound state in January this year, but there is no official confirmation, if any deliberation took place between Amit Shah and the ENPO delegation.

Worth mentioning, a three-member committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had arrived in Nagaland on December 16 and held its first meeting with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), ENPO Talk Team and Memorandum Signatories.

The central committee was on a 3-day visit to study the demand of the ENPO for a separate statehood. The team was headed by the adviser (NorthEast) A.K. Mishra who is also the peace interlocutor, along with two members – Dr Mandeep Singh, Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau and A.K. Dhayani, Director, (North East Division, MHA). Well-informed sources had said that the meeting was “fruitful” and “cordial” and ENPO not only spoke on the development aspect but other issues of National importance as well.

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