Nagaland ULB polls: M Akiuchi, first woman and only candidate to file nomination from Eastern Nagaland amid ENPO’s poll boycott call

M Akiuchi became the first woman and the only candidate from Eastern Nagaland to file nomination papers for the Urban Local Body elections to be held on June 26 after a gap of 20 years.

Akiuchi filing her papers is significant as it comes at a time when the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization, the apex body representing the eastern part of the state has decided to abstain from participating in the ULB polls.

Akiuchi filed her nomination before the Returning officer in Shamator for Ward 7 as a Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate. There are 11 wards under Shamator Town Council.
Worth mentioning that the ENPO had earlier abstained from participating in the Lok Sabha elections. Not a single vote was cast in the 6 eastern districts of Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang in the parliamentary elections in response to ENPO’s boycott call.

Even the MLAs of 20 assembly segments in the Eastern Nagaland did not turn up to vote.

The ENPO had asked people to abstain from voting due to nonfulfilment of its demand for the creation of a Frontier Nagaland.

Today is the last day for filing of nominations for the civic body polls and the process officially concluded at 3pm.

This is the first time that the municipal elections will have 33% reservation for women.

Of the 418 wards in the Municipality and Town Councils, 142 will be reserved for women. Polls will be held for three municipal councils and 36 town councils on June 26.
The civic body polls, which was conducted last in 2004 without reservations, remained stalled due to opposition by organisations representing Naga tribes against the 33 per cent reservations for women.