Nagaland 2024: Strides in inclusion but shackled by lingering issues

Congress briefly revives; leadership tussles among NPGs and natural challenges persist

Moa Jamir
Dimapur | December 31

The historic elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with 33% women’s reservation, marked a major milestone for Nagaland in 2024. However, familiar stalemates in other areas persisted without any immediate resolution as the State moved into a new year.

The year also underscored the looming impact of natural challenges on the State, disrupting normal life and infrastructure. 
Here’s a brief overview of the significant events that shaped Nagaland in 2024.

Historic civic polls; congress’ brief resurgence
On the electoral front, the long-overdue civic polls on June 26, 2024, following years of opposition from tribal organisations, marked a turning point in women’s participation in decision-making. 

Despite “voluntary abstention” in Eastern Nagaland over the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) issue, voting was conducted in three municipal councils (Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung) and 23 town councils. Counting of votes took place in 16 centres across the State.

A record 102 women candidate, including eight in unreserved wards, emerged victorious, showcasing a shift in gender representation.

The Indian National Congress (INC) also staged a brief comeback, perhaps, buoyed by Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in January and national issues influencing voting patterns, the INC won topped the elections to State’s  lone Lok Sabha Parliamentary seat held on April 19. 

The results, declared on June 5, saw the Congress candidate achieve a rare victory, defeating the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Dr Chumben Murry by a margin of 50,984 votes.

This marked the Congress’ first electoral success in over a decade, following consecutive losses in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. 

However, the revival was short-lived, as the party won only seven seats in the ULB elections held on June 26. 

Despite this, the party cadre appeared reinvigorated. Meanwhile, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) swept the polls.

Naga Political Issues: stalemates and leadership tussles
The protracted Naga political issues remained unresolved, with familiar rhetoric dominating discussions but yielding no tangible progress.

Governor La Ganesan, during the 75th Republic Day celebrations in January, acknowledged ongoing efforts for a peaceful and honourable resolution. Similar statements echoed throughout the year, including NSCN (IM) Chief Negotiator Th Muivah accusing the Government of India of ‘betraying’ the Framework Agreement and warning of potential violent resistance.

Leadership tussles within various Naga Political Groups (NPGs), however, persisted.

Notably, in April, GPRN/NSCN Ato Kilonser N Kitovi Zhimomi was reportedly replaced by Alezo Venuh, only for Zhimomi’s side to issue a “termination order” against Venuh in May, effectively splitting the group.

A similar scenario unfolded in October when Federal Government of Nagaland Kedahge (President) Brigadier (Retd) S Singnya was impeached and replaced by Vice President Zhopra Vero. This led to a “counter-impeachment,” leaving the leadership status unresolved as the year ended.

The unresolved political issues continued to impact daily life, including a state-wide “indefinite shutter-down agitation” in April, recurring ‘extortion incidents,’ and tensions between NPGs and the public over related issue The Supreme Court’s quashing of the Oting prosecution and enforcement of AFSPA further highlighted the ongoing complexities.

FNT and FRM Issue
The Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) demand remained a major issue throughout the year. The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) maintained its stand, leading to voluntary abstention from both the parliamentary and ULB elections.

In December, ENPO announced its acceptance of the Government of India’s offer for a “Unique Arrangement” with executive, legislative, and financial autonomy after a significant tripartite meeting in New Delhi.

Additionally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s January announcement to fence the India-Myanmar border sparked widespread concern. This led the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution on March 1, urging the GoI to reconsider the decision and abandon plans to suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Natural Challenges
Nagaland continued to face severe natural challenges, including heavy rainfall, hailstorms, landslides, and flash floods, which frequently disrupted infrastructure and daily life.

Notable incidents included a rockslide on National Highway-29 in July, injuring four people, and a fatal landslide in September near Pherima that claimed six lives.

The Pagla-Pahar stretch of NH-29 was washed away due to flooding, cutting off road connectivity to Kohima. Many road projects remained delayed due to natural factors and other challenges.

Other Developments
Other major developments in the State in 2024 included the launch of the CM’s Universal Life Insurance Scheme, providing life insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh on the demise of the breadwinner due to any cause, and accidental insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh for the breadwinner and three other family members. The scheme aims to cover every household in Nagaland.

After declining for three consecutive years, the unemployment rate (UR) in Nagaland surged by over 65% in 2023-24, as highlighted by the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report released on September 23.

The unemployment rate among ‘educated persons’ in Nagaland rose from 8.9% in 2022-23 to 13.4% in 2023-24, while youth unemployment increased from 18.5% to 27.4% during the same period.

On the legal front, the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, quashed the appointments of 935 constables in the Nagaland Police, as well as 38 Sub-Inspectors of Police, in September. An appeal is pending regarding the latter.

In March, the Kohima Bench also ‘quashed and set aside’ two orders passed by a Village Council, which ‘temporarily’ debarred an individual from being a citizen of the village and subsequently excommunicated them for life.

In September, the Nagaland Cabinet approved the re-implementation’ of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in three districts—Chümoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur.

On September 6, Hokato Hotozhe Sema made history by winning Nagaland’s first-ever Paralympic medal in the Men’s Shot Put F57 Final at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

Source: The Morung Express