BJP U-turn on Naga poll boycott

Guwahati: The BJP on Tuesday backed out of a joint declaration, signed by 11 political parties, including the ruling NPF, expressing solidarity with civil society groups and Naga tribal Hohos’ appeal for finding a solution to the Naga issue before Assembly elections, and declaring not to contest the Assembly polls scheduled for February 27.

The BJP also suspended its state executive council member Kheto Semaparty who had on Monday signed the joint declaration to boycott the polls without any authorisation from the party.

The rethink over poll boycott came soon after Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said that both the Central government and the BJP would ensure that elections are held on time.

Admitting that the party had authorised Mr Kheto to attend the 11 parties’ meeting, Nagaland BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu told reporters at Kohima that he was not authorised to sign the joint declaration.

“We had authorised two party leaders to attend the meeting but had also said that if there is anything regarding the elections, the party’s national leaders should be consulted,” he said.

The BJP state president, however, clarified that the party also wanted an early settlement to the Naga political problem but participating in Assembly elections is a different issue and the state unit is awaiting directions from the central leadership on the matter. The all-party meeting was held following an appeal by the Coordination Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO), which met on January 25 and 27 and appealed to all political parties to abstain from the elections before a final solution to the Naga issue is reached.

It issued the call for “Solution before Election”. The Co-ordination Committee of Naga Civil Societies (CCNCS) was formed at the behest of Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF). Other signatories to the declaration include the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal-United, Lok Janshakti Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Nagaland Democratic People’s Party, Nagaland Congress, United Naga Democratic Party and the National People’s Party. Nagaland Assembly had first demanded putting the election on hold. On December 14, 2017, the Assembly had adopted a resolution asking the Centre to take “emergent and extraordinary steps” for an “honourable and acceptable solution” to the Naga political issue first.