Nagaland Governor La Ganesan, on April 6, admitted that his initial impression of the State before his arrival here and taking charge was different and also “baseless” to a large extent.
He exuded confidence that the State will enter a new era in the next two years as people here are “educated and well cultured and have faith in the democratic process”.
“I am confident in next two-three years we will fare better,” the Governor told this journalist in a brief and exclusive interview at Raj Bhavan.
Answering questions, he said, “I am very much hopeful that there is every chance of major and drastic development and improvement in the overall situation”.
He said, “Naga people have shown utmost faith in democracy and have voted overwhelmingly during February 27 elections. In many other educated States people’s participation is not much. Maybe only 60 to 65 per cent people vote…but here in Nagaland, the voters turn out was around 84 per cent. In some constituencies, the turnout was even 90 to 94 per cent. That means people want development and solution to all their problems through ballots and not arms”.
He also admitted that there could be the influence of money power; but he said such things do happen even elsewhere.
“In some places even if they are given money by one party or another, people do not come out to vote”.
To another question on recent litigation, as contempt proceeding has been initiated against Nagaland Government by the Supreme Court over the issue of urban body elections, the Governor said the matter is coming up for hearing on April 17. “I am confident the matter will be handled legally….We have high respect for the Supreme Court”.
La Ganesan said, “We have to hold elections as Supreme Court wants it. We believe in women empowerment, and so reservation will be given too. At the same time we have to see what tribal bodies have stated. In Tamil Nadu, there is a saying the snake has to be killed, but we need to ensure that the stick is not broken”.
The Governor said he has started visiting all districts in the State gradually and is looking forward to his visit to Mokokchung town soon.
La Ganesan recalled his decision to join RSS in 1970 at the appeal from Ram Gopalji. In 1991, he joined BJP and also became its organisation secretary in Tamil Nadu and National vice president of BJP later.
La Ganesan has also served as Governor in Manipur and for a brief period in West Bengal.
La Ganesan was earlier the Governor of Manipur since August 2021 and held additional charge of West Bengal from July to November 2022.
La Ganesan is the 21st Governor of Nagaland and was sworn in as the Governor on February 20, 2023.
La Ganesan succeeded Prof Jagdish Mukhi, the Governor of Assam, who was holding additional charge of Nagaland from September 2021 to February 14 this year.
The Supreme Court recently stayed the notification on the cancellation of Nagaland local body polls and issued Contempt Notices to the State Government and the State election commission.
In an interim order, the Court stayed the operation of the poll panel order dated March 30, cancelling the civic body polls. “This is not acceptable. Please convey that we will not allow this,” the two-judge bench of the apex Court said.
Justice S K Kaul said, “But we had said that it will go ahead (with polls). How can they say something contrary to a judicial order?”
The bench of Justice Kaul and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah maintained that at the request of the advocate general for the State Government, K N Balagopal, directives were issued to the State election commission and the State to “make necessary arrangements to free and fair elections….Any authority/citizen is breach thereof would be in breach of orders of this court”.
In 2017 after the violence, the then Chief Minister T R Zeliang had to step aside for a brief spell too.
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