Likely effect of Frontier Nagaland demand in NE
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 06, 2023 -

ONLY time will tell whether or not the Ministry of Home Affairs cedes to the demand for creation of Frontier Nagaland state but it could be safely stated that the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) and other like-minded organisations wouldn't relent from pursuing the cause primarily due to concept of the eastern Nagaland people that Kohima has not been delivering justice in terms of infrastructure development.

Seriousness of the ENPO's demand could be comprehended from reports that the Nagaland government would be urging the Organisation to reconsider their demand for a separate state and not to boycott the Assembly elections due in February.

As nearly 40 out of the 60 MLAs in the Nagaland assembly are elected from constituencies spread across the eastern Nagaland districts, it is quite possible that the ENPO's stand to skip the elections might not evoke overwhelming public response for foregoing the polls would mean non-representation of substantial number of population for at-least a five-year term.

If at all the ENPO sticks to decision to boycott the polls and the adult franchisees endorse the boycott call then it is but natural that the administrative mechanism and developmental initiatives would be seriously affected.

In such a scenario, then it is imminent that the eastern region of Nagaland would only see regression.

As such, there is no doubt that the Nagaland government must be facing a tricky situation on whether to brush aside the ENPO's demand and go ahead with the five-yearly democratic exercise or propose to New Delhi for carving out Frontier Nagaland from the existing geographical area.

Notably, unlike in Manipur where the valley-based organisations had been vehemently opposing demand for separate administrations of two major tribal communities, there has been no notable vocal objections from Nagaland public and civil organisations to the demand for formation of Frontier Nagaland, with exception of its state cabinet's meeting held on Tuesday reportedly resolving to appeal to the ENPO to reconsider their demand for a separate state of Frontier Nagaland and not to boycott the Assembly elections.

Similar to some tribal organisations of Manipur pitching for creation of ethnicity-centric homeland within the state or aspiring for amalgamation with the present-day Nagaland on the ground that successive governments had been neglecting the tribal-dominated hill districts, the ENPO's demand too is mainly centred on the assumption that development projects in Nagaland are concentrated in Kohima and adjoining districts.

Interestingly in Manipur's case the intensity of the demand for homeland or single administration is no more a dominant issue under the present BJP-led government unlike during the past regime when various agitations, including blockade of the national highways, were launched to exert pressure on both Imphal and New Delhi.

Geographical isolation of eastern districts of Nagaland could be gauged from the fact that its capital Kohima and commercial town Dimapur are located on the extreme south-western corner of the state.

Therefore, the scheduled visits of home minister Amit Shah on Friday followed by PM Modi's in mid-January and their comments, if any, on the ENPO's demand could have significant geo-political effect in Nagaland and its neighbouring states like Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.