Expressing solidarity on the issue of ‘Solution before Election’, all major political parties in Nagaland – including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), NPF and the Congress – have decided not to take part in the upcoming Assembly election.
The political parties stated that they want the peace process in Nagaland to arrive at a logical conclusion before the election process.
In a meeting held at a hotel in Kohima on Monday, the political parties decided not to contest the upcoming Assembly election and released a joint declaration in this regard. The declaration stated that the parties will not issue tickets to candidates for the Assembly elections. The Northeast state goes to poll on February 27, nominations for which will start from January 31 and will end on February 7, 2018.
“We firmly believe that it is expedient for all the political parties, both national and regional, to come together in the greater interest of the state in solidarity with the call solution before election and defer the elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and allow the Naga political process to reach its logical conclusion by giving space and time to the negotiating groups to bring out an early solution,” the declaration, signed by the 11 political parties, said.
The Election Commission had on January 18 announced dates for Assembly elections in Nagaland. Elections for the 60-seat Nagaland Assembly are scheduled for February 27 and votes will be counted on March 3.
“The declaration has been made in presence of apex tribal hohos and civil society organizations,” the statement further added.
Earlier, various rebel Naga groups had warned against taking part in the electoral process.
