The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) has issued a directive today barring any individual or candidate from filing nomination under Khiamniungan jurisdiction.

“…failing to abide the directives by any individual(s), the KTC shall not be held responsible in the event of any circumstances,” read the directive.

The KTC informed that it had held a joint consultative meeting “with all the Frontal Organizations and village councils on 13th January 2023 at Noklak Headquarter”.

The meeting had “resolved and re-affirmed to fully support to the 26th August ENPO resolution to abstain from participating in the upcoming State general election 2023 until and unless a separate statehood, ‘Frontier Nagaland’ is fulfilled as demanded by the people of Eastern Nagaland.”

The KTC further informed that it has “fully endorsed and empowered” the following groups to “implement and act upon the directives” – the Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU), Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam (KMH), Village Councils, Noklak Town Sectors Union, and village public organisations.

Similarly, the Phom People’s Council (PPC) also held an emergency meeting on 21 January at the Phom People’s Council Hall and resolved to stand by the 26 August 2022 ENPO Resolution.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the PPC stated that the house also “resolved to permanently expel those individual(s) filing nomination to participate in the upcoming NLA election 2023” from Phom land and added that “the respective village of the person filing nomination shall be held solely responsible.”

For the implementation of the resolution, the press release stated that PPC has “fully endorsed the respective village councils, Phom Students’ Conference and it’s federating units and Phomla Hoichem”.