TRIBAL BODY DECIDES TO BACK NAGALAND CIVIC POLLS

A tribal organisation has decided to support the government for holding the civic or urban local body (ULB) polls on February 1.

“We have resolved to support the Nagaland government to conduct Shamator and Pungro town council polls. This resolution was taken on Sunday at Chessore village,” a statement by the Yimchungru Tribal Council mailed to Hindustan Times on Sunday reads.

Many tribal organisations in Nagaland have been opposing ULB polls to protest against the government’s move to reserve 33% of the seats for women. According to the protesting groups, it is against Naga customary laws.

They have also ordered the candidates to withdraw their nomination papers or face social boycott.

Though Tuesday is the last day for withdrawing nomination, threat from influential NGOs had made 68 candidates withdraw by Monday, leaving 467 candidates in the contest across 25 of Nagaland’s 32 municipal and town councils.

Some villages, too, have spoken against the ‘rigidity’ of traditional Naga organisations.

The Unger village council in Mokokchung district has criticised Ao Senden, the traditional body of the Ao tribe, for banishing minister Muklutoshi Longkumer from Ao-inhabited areas.