The Nagaland Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the new municipal act, incorporating a provision for 33% women reservation in Urban Local Bodies. Earlier this year, the same assembly had unanimously passed a resolution to repeal the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, which had been amended in 2006 to include the 33% women reservation, aligning with the 1992 constitutional amendment.
The northeastern state has not conducted urban local body polls for the last two decades due to opposition from Naga civil society. They argued that the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 interfered with Naga Customary Laws protected under Article 371(A) of the Constitution. Although the state’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-Bharatiya Janata Party government, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, withdrew the act under pressure from civil society groups, it faced backlash from the Supreme Court. The Naga Mothers’ Association in the state had opposed the repeal of the act.
Unsatisfied with the state's progress, the Supreme Court set a deadline of November 10 to implement the 33% women quota. During the hearing, Justice SK Kaul criticized the BJP-led Centre for not intervening when the state government, with the saffron party as a constituent, violated constitutional provisions.
It is evident that the Rio government, under pressure from the apex court, took action to make the 33% women reservation in urban local bodies a reality. The new act, developed in consultation with various Naga civil groups, excludes the tax on land and properties and omits the reservation for women for the chairperson's post.
Despite these modifications, the passing of the new municipal act is a positive development, addressing the existing gender gap in the state's politics. In a state where women's participation has historically been minimal, the act is expected to encourage greater involvement of women in state politics. In the recent assembly elections, the state assembly saw the election of two women legislators for the first time. Currently, the state's lone Rajya Sabha member, Phangnon Konyak from the BJP, is also a woman, becoming the first woman representative from the state to the upper house last year.
Concerns Over 'Hate Speech' by Assam Congress MLA
Congress legislator Aftab Uddin Mollah from the Jaleswar constituency, arrested earlier this week for making an anti-Hindu speech on November 4, was granted bail on Thursday. Mollah claimed that temple priests and naamghariyas are involved whenever there is a rape or crime, constituting a clear example of anti-Hindu speech.
The state Congress issued a show-cause notice to Mollah for his hate speech against temple priests and naamghariyas. Such hate speeches are likely to create hurdles for the party in winning back the majority Hindus. A significant section of the majority Hindus, both Assamese and Bengalis, view the Congress as a Muslim appeasement party. This perception strengthened after its alliance with the Muslim-based All India United Democratic Front of Badruddin Ajmal in the 2021 state assembly elections.
While the Congress has been avoiding the AIUDF in the Congress-led United Opposition Forum, leaders like Aftab pose a challenge. The party needs to ensure its leaders refrain from delivering anti-Hindu speeches, which may politically favor the ruling BJP.
CPM and TIPRA Motha Exchange Barbs
At a time when opposition parties nationwide are trying to unite against the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and TIPRA Motha are engaged in mutual attacks. This week, CPM accused the top leadership of TIPRA Motha, the main opposition party in the state assembly, of having a secret tie-up with the ruling BJP. State party secretary Jitendra Chaudhury announced a state-wide agitation on local issues from November 20 to December, criticizing Motha.
In response, Pradyot Debbarma of TIPRA Motha accused the CPM leadership of reducing tribals into the poorest and most backward communities in the northeast region during their rule. The dilemma within the CPM over TIPRA Motha is evident. While Jitendra Chaudhury takes a soft approach, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar opposes any soft approach towards Motha.
Despite being the main opposition party, TIPRA Motha has been critical of the CPM, with Pradyot's statement confirming this stance. The party's criticism of the ruling BJP lacks the same intensity seen when attacking the CPM. The strained relations between the Left and the royal family may contribute to this. While Pradyot accuses the Left of neglecting tribals, he overlooks that his party currently rules the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. Reports indicate tribals in remote areas facing a crisis due to a lack of basic necessities.
If Motha believes the ruling BJP is responsible, why hasn't the party organized protests on the ground? The ruling party of the ADC has failed to fulfill the tribals' basic needs, relying on the demand for Greater Tipraland as its main strategy. Despite these challenges, Pradyot's recent statement against the state BJP government reinforces Motha's role as the Opposition party in the state.