Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has stated that all the legislators in that state have decided to abstain from election campaigning till the end of December 2022 in a bid to push for early solution to the vexed Indo Naga Political issue.

Rio also said a clear message has been conveyed to the Naga negotiating groups that if a final solution is not arrived at and the Election Commission of India announces for election, then the Naga political groups cannot blame the elected and intending candidates for contesting in the elections since it is constitutionally mandated. He added that the elected members are only acting as facilitators and the Naga political groups are the ones negotiating with the Government of India.

“The Elected members, we sat and discussed that till December nobody should go for campaign because we have come together in support of the solution and I told the Naga groups also, if solution don’t come you don’t blame us because you are negotiating. We are facilitators and if solution don’t come and election is announced, then we have to participate,” said Rio.

He was also of the view that since the Naga political groups have returned to Nagaland, there is very less hope for anything major to happen with regard to the final inking of the protracted Indo Naga political issue.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. File Photo.

NSCN-IM General Secretary T H Muivah had returned to Nagaland on 13 December and the NSCN-IM delegation led by V S Atem had returned on 7 December whereas, the NNPGs had a meeting with A K Mishra on 8 December and returned on 9 December.