Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio.
Dimapur, February 13 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today stated that according to the Government of India, 20 more seats will be added to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, following a solution to the Naga political issue.
The CM also informed that as per the Centre, the number of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seats for the State will also be increased to three each, following any solution to the Naga issue. He revealed this while addressing a campaign rally in Pughoboto on February 13.
On the Naga political issue, Rio said that the 14th NLA will take crucial decisions for the Nagas and stated that the NSCN (IM) and the WC-NNPG had come to a common understanding for the resolution of the Naga issue and asked the people to be united.
Regarding the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation’s (ENPO) decision to withdraw their abstention from taking part in the election, Rio welcomed the move and highlighted the steps taken by the State Government by forming a committee and subsequently, recommending an autonomous council for the region realising the deficiency of development in the region.
According to a press release from the NDPP Pughoboto, the CM informed that the house of 60 members did not have a single issue with regard to the integration of all Naga inhabited areas and had unanimously passed the sixth resolution in the assembly. He added that the government is against division of the state.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections also should be held with reservation for women, he asserted, and added that Naga women have advanced more than men in education and business. Maintaining that the NDPP stands for women empowerment and gender equality, he said the party has given two tickets to women candidates with the prospect that if they win from their constituency and come to the NLA, history will be made.
Rio meanwhile pointed out that the impending census and delimitation will take place soon and maintained that “delimitation should be done justly unlike the last time to deliver justice to all’. It may be noted that following the 84th amendment to the Indian Constitution in 2002, delimitation is to be done after 2026, if not postponed.
From the long pending solution to the Naga political issue, the impending delimitation process, issues related to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in municipal councils of the State, and women’s reservation among others, the Nagaland Chief Minister stated that the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly will have a lot of work to do.
The CM further asserted that the BJP-NDPP alliance, from 2018 till date, is going strong and will form the next government. He told the gathering not to be confused about forming the government, and alliance and leadership issues.
Meanwhile, he told the participants of the campaign rally that the NDPP is a party which is “regional in character, national in outlook and with global prospects to pursue and uphold regional aspirations and Naga identity.”
