An estimated 90.21 per cent out of 13,17,729 voters (total population 19,88,636) on April 16 exercised their franchise at 1790 polling stations across Nagaland including those in inaccessible villages in districts of Mon and Tuensang bordering Myanmar and infested by different underground factions to elect the lone representative to Lok Sabha as well as four Assembly constituencies in an exercise that remained largely peaceful. The highest polling percentage was reported from Kiphire with 97.49 per cent followed closely by Mon at 93.56 per cent and third Pughoboto at 93.66 per cent. Other districts like Dimapur registered 83.47 per cent voter turn out, Peren 91.60 per cent, Kohima 79.30 per cent, Phek 94.12 per cent, Mokokchung 86.26 per cent, Zunheboto 93.58 per cent, Longleng 96.49 per cent, and Tuensang 96 per cent. The Assembly segment poll percentage stands at 83.42 per cent for 41 Tizit (final), 83.35 per cent for 54 Tuensang Sadar II, 82.88 per cent for Dimapur III and 91.40 per cent for 17th Chizami. Reportedly, the over-all polling in the state was peaceful with no major incident, no mob violence or clash. Polling Stations not connected by road stood at 56, mostly in Peren, Phek, Wokha, Longleng, Kiphire and Tuensang. It was a bipolar election. The Congress and Naga People'sFront (NPF) supported by BJP were two main rival parties though invisible Trinamool Congress (TC) had also fielded its candidate.
Three candidates were in the fray for Lok Sabha seat, which included CM Chang, a retired state government officer (NPF), K. Asungba Sangtam, former MP Lok Sabha (Congress) and Dr. Rilangthung Odyuo (Trinamool). Of the three candidates, CM Chang (NPF) contested the Lok Sabha polls for the first time and is backed by the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) which is at the helm of power in the state. CM Chang unsuccessfully contested on NPF tickets from Noksen in 2004 and 2008. K. Asungba Sangtam (Congress) is in the fray for the forth-consecutive terms for the Lok Sabha Polls. He fought on Congress ticket in 1998, 1999 and 2004. This time too, he is contesting on Congress ticket. Asungba won the seat in 1998 and 1999 and became MP (Lok Sabha) (1998-1999 and 1999-2004) from Nagaland. Dr. Rilanthung Odyuo also contested the 2004 Lok Sabha election as Independent but lost.
The most debated 16-page booklet-Bedrock of Naga Society authored by Shri SC Jamir and published in 2000 by AICC (Nagaland) still haunted the mind of rival politicians. They alleged that Bedrock of Naga Society of Shri Jamir had put Naga secessionist movement in reverse gear. On the heat of election, NPF reclaimed to work for reconciliation between different militant factions and bring permanent peace and prosperity in Nagaland. Top-most politicians including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that in the changed international and national scenario, various countries were talking of inter-dependence and economic sovereignty instead of political sovereignty. The Baptist Church has engripped Naga society with almost 90 per cent Christian population. They have been successfully, as alleged, influencing all the earlier Assembly and Parliamentary elections in favour of those who had support for the secessionist movement. This time also, the Church leaders tried their level best to influence the election, but their grip appeared to be fast declining because of their artificial life, greed for carnal pleasure and their hob-nobbing in dirty political game and secessionist movements more than religious matters. The missionary work has become a business in Nagaland.
The insurgency in Nagaland started with the conversion of Nagas into Christianity in early part of 1950 onwards. The growth of Naga insurgency ran parallel to that of conversion of Nagas to Christianity. The Churches became the safest shelter place for insurgents. Today, over 40,000 Nagas stand killed reportedly and the killing spree still continues. The common Naga people have become fed up of hypocrisy of Church and Church supported militant organizations. They are also fed up of corrupt politicians and Church leaders. The Naga public dream to live in peace and prosperity. They wish to revive their age-old ethos, which are disappearing fast. The 90.21 per cent turn out and incident free polling are the reflection of Naga people'sdream to live with peace and prosperity in the emerging super power?Bharatvarsh. This is also a clear-cut denial of secessionist demand of underground organisations.
(The writer can be contacted at Jagdamba123@gmail.com)
