Cabinet urges ENGOA to encourage Eastern Nagaland’s electoral participation

KOHIMA — The Nagaland Cabinet has urged citizens of eastern Nagaland to actively participate in the electoral process and to co-operate in resolving any forthcoming issues amicably, without adopting confrontational stances.

The appeal was made through the Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Association (ENGOA) during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex in Kohima on Thursday.

Following the meeting, state minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye, told journalists that it was the first time such a meeting was held with ENGOA and it was well represented by leaders from eastern Nagaland.

The discussions, which lasted for more than a couple of hours, centred around reviewing various documents and assessing the current status of development concerning the new political entity — Frontier Nagaland Territory — that the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) aspires for.

“It was a healthy and free and fair discussion and meeting. The state government had presented a brief report from the time it had started in 2010 up to date and different members had presented their views and opinions,” he maintained.

Kenye went on to say that the issue should be resolved with patience and understanding. It is a continuous process that has already taken more than a decade and will continue after the installation of a new government at the Centre, he said.

He opined that the ENGOA, which is made up of government gazzeted officers from the eastern Nagaland areas, is part of the entire movement as well as the ENPO family.

As such, the association should not have any problem approaching the ENPO and putting its views across. The state government will continue to request all the citizens, regardless of their location within the state, whether in the east, west, north, or south, to actively participate in the electoral process of the country, Kenye asserted.

When asked about a similar situation that was witnessed prior to the state assembly election in 2023, and how the ENPO eventually ended its call to boycott the polls after assuring to promptly address the issue, Kenye redirected the question to the Central government, clarifying that the state government is not directly involved in the negotiations.

Furthermore, Kenye asserted that ENGOA would continue to persuade the ENPO, which has been spearheading the movement, to participate in the electoral process as bona fide citizens of the nation, a duty incumbent upon all citizens.

He expressed hope that ENGOA would fulfil their roles and responsibilities accordingly.

With three candidates in the fray for the ensuing Lok Sabha election, the minister said the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Dr. Chumben Murry has been earnestly selected, and the NDPP-led alliance is hoping for a smooth electoral process and conduct.

He appealed to the electorates of the state to vote for the PDA consensus candidate so that he could represent the state in the parliament with his strong voice.