The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has questioned the Naga People’s Front (NPF) over the alleged political poaching of opposition councillors and its position on the appointment of retired IPS officer, Ajit Lal as the new interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks.

In a response to the NPF’s recent clarification, the NPCC questioned the party’s assertion that councillors who joined or extended support to it did so voluntarily, asking whether such decisions could be considered entirely voluntary if elected representatives were allegedly denied development funds for their respective wards.

The Congress alleged that opposition councillors were being subjected to political pressure through the withholding of development funds, leaving them with limited options to secure development for their constituents.

The NPCC called upon the government to disclose ward-wise allocation and release of development funds to establish whether opposition councillors had been treated fairly.

“Development funds belong to the people, not to any political party,” the NPCC said, asserting that public funds should not be used as instruments of political bargaining.

On the Naga peace process, the NPCC strongly criticised the appointment of Ajit Lal, a retired IPS officer as the new interlocutor, stating that his appointment “is contrary to the interests and unanimous decision of the Naga people made on 12 September 2026 at the Consultative Meeting convened by the Government of Nagaland.”

It referred to the resolution adopted at the broad-based Consultative Meeting, which “appealed to the Government of India to elevate the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor of political or ministerial level having the confidence and mandate of the government.”

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“Nothing more or less than this was the decision of the Naga people,” it stated.

The NPCC said it was surprised and disappointed that the Naga people’s desire to have a trusted political leader or minister has not been fulfilled and instead a retired civil servant has been appointed.

Stating that the NPF leadership found itself confused by the words “political/ministerial level” and welcome a bureaucratic-level interlocutor, the NPCC considered this “disgraceful for the Naga people and contrary to their hope and desire”.

“The present stage of the Naga Peace Process is not merely a matter of paperwork to be entrusted to a retired civil servant, but a political issue that requires the wisdom and experience of a political leader,” the NPCC said.

The party urged the NPF leadership to recognise the need for political will and called for a political leader with the mandate to bring together the stakeholders and facilitate a political agreement between the Naga people and the Government of India without further delay.

The NPCC further asserted that the negotiation phase had already been concluded and that the Naga people were awaiting formal implementation of a political agreement between the Naga Political Groups and the Government of India.

The Congress said it leaves it to the conscience and wisdom of NPF leadership to determine whether it was satisfied or dissatisfied with the appointment of Ajit Lal as interlocutor.