Solution to the several decade-old Naga political issue is the main election issue in Christian-dominated Nagaland, which goes to polls on February 27. BJP and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) combine had turned their 2018 poll campaign into an “election for solution”. But now, several groups have called for a boycott of the elections because they are insisting on “no solution, no election”, reports Bikash Singh. 184 candidates are contesting the polls.

POLITICAL TIE-UPS: 2018-2021
NDPP had won 18 seats in 2018, BJP 12 seats and Congress none in the 2018 polls. But 21 MLAs of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) joined NDPP and the party was left with only four MLAs. NPF is in alliance with NDPP and together with BJP is running an all-party opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government in the state since 2021.

CURRENT SEAT ARRANGEMENT
This time also, BJP-NDPP is jointly fighting the polls with NDPP contesting in 40 seats and BJP in 20. Though there were protests after the seat-sharing deal, both parties refused to make changes in the arrangement. But NPF is fighting polls on its own and has fielded 22 contestants this time. Congress has fielded candidates in 23 seats.

NAGA ISSUE
Talks between the government of India and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) hangs in a limbo, especially on the issue of a separate flag and constitution. NSCN-IM has been demanding a separate flag and Constitution which the India government had rejected. Separate negotiations have been going on with NSCN-IM since 1997. The Working Committee of Naga National Political Group (NNPG) has concluded talks with the government.