The Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) has written to the Deputy Commissioner Kohima seeking clarification on the Cabinet meeting held on July 11 this year on anti-defection law for municipal elections. During the meeting, the AKMWP informed, it was decided “that in case of any other bodies duplicating functions of elected councillors such as town Gbs/ward committees, the department should initiate necessary action to disband/phase out such bodies.”

In this backdrop, the AKMWP has sought clarification on the term “ward committees” which it viewed as vague (unclear) and can mean many non profit and non governmental organization in the jurisdiction of the ULB. It also highlighted that the Wards/Town councils were formed as non profit, non governmental organizations, duly registered with the Registrar of Societies.

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“The ward/town councils are mandated by the citizens of the respective wards/colonies for the overall development and welfare of the citizens in particular and the society as a whole. At no point of time were we appointed by the Nagaland Government or any other authority. Therefore in view of the above the Association demands for early clarification of the term “ward committees in the cabinet decision, dated 11/7/24, for the benefit of everybody concern,” stated the AKMWP.