Frontier Nagaland Demand: ENPO firm on its resolve to boycott 2023 Assembly polls

In a big development, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on Monday decided to stand firm on its earlier decision to abstain from participating in the upcoming 2023 Assembly elections in the state. The ENPO in it’s Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting held today at Chang Khulei Setshang in Tuensang district, reaffirmed it’s 26 August resolution to abstain from participating in the forthcoming elections.

Highly placed sources informed that the house has also decided to demand resignations of all the party workers belonging to any political parties. Filing of nominations will also not be allowed.

This indeed is a big development as it comes in the backdrop of the high level 3-member MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) committee holding back to back parleys with the ENPO talks team as well as other stakeholders to discuss the demand for creation of a Frontier Nagaland, comprising the Eastern most parts of the state.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio speaking to Northeast Live this morning had informed that the government has handed over the findings of the CM level committee to the Central Committee. The Chief Minister hoped that some decision will be taken while he maintained that everything depends on the Home Ministry.

It may be mentioned that the 3-member committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) arrived in Tuensang district on December 16 and held its first meeting with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), ENPO Talk Team and Memorandum Signatories. After the meeting 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. The central committee was on a three-day visit to study the demand of the ENPO for a separate statehood.

ENPO is the apex body representing seven tribes from six districts of eastern Nagaland – Mon, Noklak, Kiphire, Longleng, Shamator and Tuensang. It has been demanding a separate state since 2010. They want “Frontier Nagaland” to be carved out from the state’s eastern part on the ground that this region hadn’t seen much development for decades.

The organization has submitted several representations to the Centre and recently threatened that its supporters will abstain from participating in any election process if its demand is not met. The ENPO boycotted Hornbill Festival 2022, one of the biggest festivals of Nagaland. There are 20 MLAs form the eastern Nagaland region.