Peace near, so poll later: Nagaland

GUWAHATI: Political parties and the non-governmental organisations in Nagaland want the assembly polls, scheduled for early next year, to be deferred in view of reports that New Delhi and extremist groups are inching closer to resolving the Naga political problem.

Talks between the Central government and the extremist outfits, specifically the IsakMuivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), began after a ceasefire agreement in July 2007.

The delay in finding a solution had caused restlessness in Nagaland until the Narendra Modi government in 2015 signed a Framework Agreement, whose contents have not yet

›If polls are conducted, the Centre will find it difficult to dismiss the government for an alternative arrangement for political settlement. I say this because the 60 MLAs may not be willing to vacate their seats. IMKONG L IMCHEN, Nagaland home minister

been made public.

Last week, the office of Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang indicated that the parties on the opposite sides of the talks table have found the elusive solution, while only “symbolic issues” remain for which a resolution is needed to be arrived at.

The CMO, however, did not elaborate on what constituted the “symbolic issues”.

This was after RN Ravi, the Centre’s interlocutor, held a meeting with all stakeholders in the peace process besides NSCN-IM in Nagaland for the first time.

Zeliang and his council of ministers met Union home minister Rajnath Singh to push for settlement of the seven-decadeold problem ahead of the assembly elections.

Barring the hostile-again SS Khaplang faction of the NSCN, seven Naga insurgent groups are negotiating a peace deal with the government.

Nagaland’s home minister Imkong L Imchen sought deferment of the polls if a solution to the protracted issue comes ahead of Christmas. This is because a solution could lead to a Mizoram-like situation where the ruling Congress made way for the insurgency Mizo National Front to form the government after signing a peace deal in 1986.

“If the polls are conducted, the Centre will find it difficult to dismiss the newly-elected government for an alternative arrangement for the sake of political settlement. I say this because the 60 MLAs may not be willing to vacate their seats,” he said.

Sumi Hoho, the apex body of the Sumi tribe, too wants the polls postponed. “The forthcoming election may be deferred for smooth transition to any alternative arrangement,” it said in an appeal to New Delhi.