The Nagaland Assembly Elections are in sight. It is at present under the rule of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) affiliated to the BJP- NDA government at the Centre. But the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) does not want polls to be held before the Naga problem is solved. Political parties, at the national and regional levels, have shown their support to the movement demanding a resolution of the Naga peace process before assembly elections are held in the state. The NSCM (IM) has the support of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) who said in a joint statement that their stand is abundantly clear. The negotiations are fully backed by the unstinted support of the people. The Naga resolve is again being put to the test. These parties have issued a warning against sabotaging of the negotiations by indulging in the election process. They suspect that the elections can have an adverse effect on the ongoing peace talks.
Admittedly, Naga peace talks should be speeded up to bring an end to the militancy and to restore stability in Nagaland. However, there have been several rounds of talks between the Union Government and the NSCM (IM) for decades. The other militant group, NSCN (Khaplang) has never participated in the peace talks. Meanwhile, elections to the assembly have been held successfully and the Naga people expressed their verdict democratically. In the past, the militant groups did not interfere with the casting of votes. Why has this demand been made now? It is the NSCM (IM) which has been responsible for scuttling talks as it insists on having a separate constitution and demands chunks of territory from Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Postponement of the elections to the assembly will cause a political void in the state which the Centre and the EC cannot allow.