Wokha: The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has been firm on its decision to abstain the upcoming Lok Sabha election over its demand for a Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT). But will the poll abstention have any impact on the state’s lone parliamentary seat?
Speaking to reporters on Friday ahead of the election campaign of the Peoples’ Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate in Wokha, deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton said that the ENPO’s abstention will have no impact on the parliamentary poll.
“Even if the entire ENPO do not give any vote, Dr Chumben Murry, PDA consensus candidate will win with a thumping majority,” Patton said with confidence.
He revealed that out of a total of about 13 lakh electors in the state, there are about 3 lakh voters in the Eastern Nagaland region, comprising six districs.
He recounted how in 1998, a candidate who contested the state Assembly polls, won the seat by securing just 10 votes.
With about 9 lakh voters in the other districts, he reiterated that even without the vote of the “entire” ENPO, there will not be any impact. He exuded confidence that with the support of all 60 elected representatives supporting the consensus candidate, the NDPP candidate would undoubtedly win the seat.
With regard to the ENPO’s decision to boycott the poll, he said that such a move was “totally wrong”. He pointed out that the state government, headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, made repeated appeals to the ENPO to reconsider their decision.
Despite three to four invitations extended by the CM, he said that the ENPO had refused to meet with the state government. On Thursday, the state government held a meeting with officers of the Eastern region, where it directed officers from the region to urge the ENPO to reconsider boycott of the election.
“It is upto them to decide. Our government machinery will exercise, and we will go to the respective polling stations,” he said.
With the announcement of the elections and the subsequent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Patton said that the ENPO issue cannot be discussed with the central leaders. The matter, he said, can only be discussed once a popular government is formed.
He recounted how the discussions between the Centre and the ENPO were not disclosed till the time the state government met with the union home minister in Delhi.
He said that the union minister then assured that without the consultation and confidence of the Nagaland state government, nothing will be finalised.
A total of three candidates including former MLA Dr Chumben Murry of the NDPP, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president Supongmeren Jamir, and Independent candidate Hayithung Lotha are vying for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state.
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