Nearly two years after Nagaland held its first Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in two decades — polls that marked a historic shift with the introduction of 33% reservation for women — one of the state’s most prominent civic institutions is now facing a major political crisis. A no-confidence motion has been moved against Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi, exposing widening cracks within the ruling coalition and raising concerns over instability in Nagaland’s urban governance.
According to a notice issued by Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Tinojongshi Chang, the motion was initiated after 12 of the 23 elected members of the DMC submitted a notice expressing their intention to move the no-confidence motion.
The notice was delivered by two elected councillors and received by the Deputy Commissioner on May 11, 2026.
Following scrutiny, the DC found the motion to be in conformity with the procedural and substantive requirements laid down under Chapter II, Section 15 (1) and (2) of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, including the requirement that it be backed by the statutorily mandated number of elected members.
After verification, the DC stated that the motion was procedurally valid and warranted the convening of a Special Meeting to consider the motion. The meeting has now been scheduled for May 22, 2026, at 11 am at the office of the Dimapur Municipal Council, with all elected members directed to attend.
Historic polls, emerging fault lines
Political parties, civil society organisations and tribal bodies had hailed the 2024 ULB elections as historic. Although civic polls were first conducted in Nagaland in 2004 without reservation for women, attempts to introduce a 33% quota through an amendment to the Nagaland Municipal Act in 2006 had faced years of resistance and repeated delays.
It was only in 2024 that municipal elections were finally conducted with the reservation policy in place, paving the way for greater participation of women in urban local governance.
However, the optimism surrounding the elections has increasingly been overshadowed by internal tensions within the DMC, particularly among coalition partners.
The roots of the current crisis go back to the immediate aftermath of the polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is part of an alliance with the erstwhile Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party — now merged with the Naga People’s Front— had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the council.
BJP councillors accused the chairperson’s camp of sidelining them despite being alliance partners. According to party leaders, tensions had been simmering for months before escalating into an open political confrontation.
Divisions within the council
Of the 12 councillors who moved the no-confidence motion, six belong to the BJP while six are from the NPF camp led by deputy chairperson Imlinaro Ezung.
The rival group, led by the chairperson, is backed by 11 NPF councillors, including two former members of the National People’s Party who later joined the NPF.
Speaking on the issue, Nagaland BJP president Benjamin Yepthomi told a local newspaper that the party’s dissatisfaction was not triggered by a single incident but stemmed from frustrations that had persisted since the formation of the council following the 2024 elections.
He alleged that BJP councillors were not adequately consulted on council matters and were denied meaningful opportunities to function effectively, resulting in their marginalisation despite the alliance arrangement.
Yepthomi also acknowledged broader governance concerns within Dimapur’s municipal administration, particularly regarding civic grievances and the delivery of public services. At the same time, he cautioned against frequent leadership changes, warning that prolonged instability within the council could adversely affect governance and public services.
What happens next?
Under the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, a no-confidence motion can proceed if it receives the support of the required number of elected councillors. Once such a notice is formally received, the deputy commissioner is mandated to convene a special meeting within a stipulated timeframe for voting on the motion.
With the May 22 meeting approaching, political attention is now focused on whether the motion will succeed and what consequences it may have for Dimapur’s political equations and wider state politics.
The developments come at a crucial moment for Nagaland’s urban local bodies, which are still adjusting to a new political phase following the return of municipal elections after two decades and the introduction of women’s reservation in civic governance.
As Nagaland’s commercial hub and gateway to mainland India, Dimapur occupies a central role in the state’s economy. Home to Nagaland’s only airport and major rail connectivity, the city remains critical to trade, transport and business activities across the state.
Also Read: Let us be honest: We will never know who killed church leaders in Manipur
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI