Nagaland goes to the poll on February 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed some of the ticklish problems involved. The NSCN (IM) had been asserting that the elections could not be held until its dialogue with the Centre had been wrapped up. The PM assured the outfit that the Naga political issue would be resolved in the next few months keeping in mind the dignity of the Nagas. In August 2015, the Centre had announced that a framework agreement with the NSCN (IM) had been reached. A cease fire had been declared in 1997. The government is also in talks with other Naga political groups. The NSCN (K) which operates from the Myanmar border had not yet participated in the negotiations. Modi said that the resolution of the issue would strengthen the country. Together the Centre and the Nagaland government could then dedicate themselves to the development of the country.
Modi also concentrated on corruption, stressing the efforts of his government to eradicate loopholes and leakages. He said his vision for Nagaland was based on “Transformation by Transportation” which meant development of roads, rail and air connectivity as well as electricity access. He also addressed issues raised by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) extending to a demand for a separate state. Modi said that the Centre had always kept its doors open for giving special attention to the backward ENPO areas. The BJP has been in power in Nagaland for a number of years with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) leading the state government. But recently it has chosen to ally itself with its rival, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). The Congress on the other hand has been out of power in the state for a long time. The BJP has also taken in its stride the criticism of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. Nagaland is one state in the North-East where the BJP does not have to make a fresh inroad.
