Village councils hold sway in Nagaland

Such is their influence on people that chief electoral officer had warned councils against interfering with poll process

MOKOKCHUNG (NAGALAND):AS campaigning for the Assembly election on February 27 came to a noisy end on Sunday, all eyes are on the numerous village councils in Nagaland.  All it takes is one signal from the all-powerful councils to make or mar the chances of candidates.From time immemorial, the councils have played a key role in the running of the village. The councils have chairmen and members, and all decisions regarding the administration of the village are taken by them. Even today, the village council’s word is considered final.

In such a situation, the backing of the council is crucial for a candidate. “In Nagaland, decisions taken by the council have to be followed. Elections here are very different from other parts,” said a journalist with Tir Yimyim, the only newspaper in Ao language.

The councils in Mokokchung district, the home of the Ao tribe, are called Putumenden. “They have the power to even excommunicate a villager if that person is found guilty of some wrongdoing,” he added.
Concerned over the hold of the village councils, Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha recently warned them against interfering with the poll process. He said the councils have in the past been known to have given a call to not vote for a candidate, thereby denying voters freedom to take an independent decision. “This is not free and fair elections,” he said, warning of action against councils found defying his appeal.

But Sinha’s plea is likely to fall on deaf ears. Jenbike Kikon, a retired teacher in Wokha district, said no villager would openly go against the wishes of the council.“As voting is through secret ballot it can be possible that someone votes against the council’s diktat. But he cannot be seen openly backing someone else,” he said.

Tea stall owner Mhondamo Yanthan said village council decisions are generally conveyed through word of mouth. “How will the administration come to know? Also, they will have no proof so how can they prosecute any council,” he said.

As life revolves around the village, it is important for a candidate to belong to a large village to have a higher chance of getting elected. “There are many villages whose population is less than 1,000. A candidate from such a village is always at a disadvantage,” said Matung Longkumer, a local in Mokokchung.

“There have been instances where a deserving candidate having a clean record has not got elected because he belonged to a village that was numerically weak,” said Reverand Mar Atsongchanger.

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The New Indian Express
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