But Mokokchung specter remains
Al Ngullie
Dimapur | October 3
The Nagaland Government wants to declare early the municipal elections in the state but the “Mokokchung Municipal issue” remains a formidable predicament to allow any policy decision. What precedent the still-hung Mokokchung Municipal Council institution has set, is not allowing any state decisions to declare the polls, a highly reliable source from the government said tonight.
The allusion was that the Cabinet is faced with ‘the Mokokchung dilemma’ and to settle the ‘headache’ convened the October 8 “stakeholders’” meeting with civil entities and policy-makers.
A source from the state Cabinet, on condition of anonymity, said the government wants to get on and over with the municipal elections and call early dates. ‘We are ready to go ahead with the elections. There is no reason why we should not hold the elections early,’ said the source. But, he said, “the Mokokchung issue” remains a headache. The municipal institution for Mokokchung town and elections to it remains in a state of suspension.
The source from the Cabinet implied that the fate of Mokokchung’s municipal is not entwined with the 33% Reservation for Women policy. The government has resources and the capacity to just go ahead and call for early polls but does not want more instances of “the Mokokchung issue.” Otherwise “we are ready to go ahead,” the source said.
Another source, also on anonymity, said the state government has the capacity to exercise strong political will but is unwilling to go ahead with the polls without “consulting the people.” In fact, it was implied, the government-sponsored consultative meeting with “stakeholders” – civil entities and policy-makers scheduled for October 8 is a part of that careful treading. It is understood that the issue of 33% women reservation in the Nagaland municipal organizations and their representation, municipal polls are expected to be the chief concerns although other matter “falling under Article 371 (A)” is in agenda.
“(such consultations are) necessary because Mokokchung could not have its elections and this relates to everyone,” the source said. The government wants to avoid ‘more Mokokchungs’ and ‘consequences’ by holding back decisions for polls to commence. ‘Otherwise we are ready to call early polls,’ he added.
The state government continues to soft-pedal, seemingly. The consultative ‘meeting’ listed three chief points of concern under the banner of the oft-employed “Article 371 (A)”. They are land resources its use and management but the third, women reservation, is already understood to be the area where the louder exchange would take place.
An instance of this emphasis on women reservation and the municipal polls was Home Minister Imkong Imchen’s recent statement in the media. Imchen said the municipal and Town Council election are due ‘there is another constitutional aspect in regard to the Women Reservation in such elections.’ “The Government of Nagaland is of the opinion that a consensus opinion has to be put in place so that there is no divergent view on the policy in this vital aspect,” Imchen had stated.
