Why Eastern Nagaland districts are again seeing poll boycott call

ON THE cusp of yet another election, six eastern districts in Nagaland have again called for a boycott of the polls over their demand for greater autonomy. The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on Monday wrote to the Election Commission of India, saying the people of these districts have taken "a collective decision to abstain” from voting.

What do the protesters want?

People in six eastern districts of Nagaland — Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator and Tuensang — have been demanding a separate state for long, on the grounds of lack of development in these parts. The issue escalated in November 2010, when the ENPO submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking a separate state with special status and provisions, citing “development deficit” in the region.

Together, the six districts account for one-third, or 20 of the 60, Assembly seats in the state.

Is there a development deficit?

Regional disparity between the Eastern Nagaland districts, which make up more than 30% of the population of the state and are home to the Konyak, Khiamniungan, Chang, Sangtam, Tikhir, Phom and Yimkhiung tribes, and the rest of the state is a commonly recognised fact.

The 2016 Nagaland State Human Development Report, flagging the disparity, noted that “there is considerable intra-state disparity in the spread of the benefits of development”. The report added that the gap has been widening over time.

Is this the first boycott call?

Before the Assembly polls in February last year, the demand again reared its head. As early as August 2022, the ENPO passed a resolution to abstain from participating in the Assembly polls unless the demand was met.

Weeks before the polls, the ENPO withdrew the boycott, citing an assurance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that a “mutuallyagreedsolution”would be in place after the election.

What has been the progress on that front?

Since the Assembly elections concluded, there have been several rounds of meetings between the ENPO and Union Home Ministry officials. As per sources, the discussions have centred around creating a “unique arrangement” called the "Frontier Naga Territory". This agreement would create a territory within the state of Nagaland that would have separate Legislature, Executive and financial powers.

ENPO president Tsapikiu Anar told The Indian Express: “We were given a verbal assurance by the Home Ministry that the matter would be finalised before the MCC comes into force. In preceding months we made many requests and representations to the Union Home Minister. However, nothing happened.