Nagaland Assembly Speaker Dr Imtiwapanag Aier accepted the resignation of 10 legislators who had resigned from the Assembly after announcement of the schedule for State Assembly elections.
This was informed by Commissioner and Secretary N Benjamin Newmai on Tuesday.
The Speaker has accepted the resignations tendered by 10 legislators – Tokheho Yepthomi, Noke Wangnao, Dr Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, S Pangnyu Phom, Zhaleo Rio, Deo Nukhu, CM Chang, Pohwang Konyak, Namri Nchang and Neiba Kronu.
The legislators resigned from the membership of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly with effect from January 29 under Article 190 Clause 3(b) of the Constitution of India, Newmai stated.
Consequent upon the resignations, the Speaker has declared the seats under 3-Dimapur-III (ST), 43 – Tapi (ST), 9 – Kohima Town (ST), 50 – Longleng (ST), 5- Ghaspani-II (ST), 17 – Chizami (ST), 51 – Noksen (ST), 44 – Phomching (ST), 6- Tenning (ST) and 16 – Pfutsero (ST) Assembly constituencies as vacant.
In a statement, the 10 legislators stated, “In slew of the resolution passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 15/12/2017 urging the Government of India to resolve the Naga political issue before the general election and in support of the peoples’ desire for solution before election and agreement reached between civil societies, apex tribal hohos and political parties in NagaIand on January 29, 2018 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima to defer the State elections” they decided to resign as Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in response to the wishes of the Nagas for a solution to the Naga political issue.
Three other legislators – former Home Minister Y Patton, former adviser in the State Cabinet Er Vikho Yoshu and Independent MLA Jacob Zhimomi – had resigned from the State Assembly earlier.
Their resignations were also accepted by the Speaker.
These MLAs have resigned to join other parties to contest the State Assembly elections scheduled to be held on February 27.
However, uncertainty looms large over holding the Assembly elections as 11 political parties of Nagaland, both national and regional, at a meeting with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) on Monday resolved not to issue tickets to party candidates for the ensuing polls in response to the call of tribal hohos and other tribal civil society organisations of the State seeking ‘solution before election’.
The parties contended that solution to the Naga political issue should be arrived at before the elections in the State.