No nominations filed yet in Nagaland for assembly elections

Eleven political parties, including the ruling Naga People’s Front, have signed a declaration not to participate in the election till a final solution to the Naga peace talks is arrived.

Updated on: Feb 9, 2018, 15:42:20 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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It’s been five days since the notification for this month’s assembly election in Nagaland was announced. But no candidate, either from political parties or independents, filed nominations papers till Monday.

The last date of filing of nomination for the Nagaland polls is February 7. Polling is scheduled on February 27. (PTI File Photo)

Despite a boycott threat by political parties, the notification was issued by the Election Commission on January 31. The last date of filing of nomination is February 7. Polling is scheduled on February 27.

“No candidate has filed nomination papers in any of the 60 constituencies till Monday. The deadline for filing nominations ends at 3pm on February 7,” said Nagaland chief electoral officer Abhijit Sinha.

Last month, on the insistence of tribal bodies and civil rights bodies, 11 political parties, including the ruling Naga People’s Front, ally BJP and opposition Congress, signed a declaration not to participate in the election. They had urged the Election Commission and the Centre to defer polls till a final solution to the Naga peace talks is arrived at.

But the BJP soon backed out and announced its decision to contest the polls. This led to other parties also deciding on taking part in the election.

“We have reports of large number of nomination papers being taken from offices of returning officers. We hope the candidates will file nomination in the two remaining days,” said Sinha.

The past few days also saw breakup in the 15-year-old alliance between BJP and NPP, with the saffron outfit deciding to join hands with a newly formed National Political Party (NDPP).

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), in talks with Centre for the ‘final solution’, issued a statement on Sunday saying “imposed” election was not acceptable. The core committee of Naga tribal ‘hohos’ and civil organisations (CCNTHCO) says it would not interfere with the elections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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