Urban local body polls likely to be held in Nagaland in April

Guwahati: After nearly 20 years, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections in Nagaland are likely to be held in April.

Municipal elections in Nagaland were first conducted in 2004, and the terms of the civic bodies ended in 2009-10.

The State Election Commission (SEC) has initiated a special summary revision of the electoral rolls for the ULB elections, including municipal polls.


An official of the SEC stated that the commission would announce the schedule of the ULB elections only after the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls.

On several occasions, the Nagaland government had announced its intention to hold elections for the ULBs, but strong opposition from tribal bodies and civil society organizations against 33 per cent reservation for women and taxation on land and properties had delayed the polls.

In 2017, violent protests erupted after the then Naga People’s Front government, led by former Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang, attempted to hold the elections, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to many others. Government properties and offices were also vandalized and damaged.

The agitations eventually led to the downfall of the Zeliang government.

Following Supreme Court directives, the incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led opposition-less government had announced plans to conduct the ULB elections with 33 per cent reservation for women in March last year.

However, due to renewed protests, the government canceled the elections and repealed the relevant act of 2001 in March last year.

After extensive consultations with tribal bodies, Naga tribal hohos, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders, the state Assembly passed the new Nagaland Municipal Act 2023 with 33 per cent reservation for women in November last year.

Provisions related to taxes, land, and buildings have been excluded from the Nagaland Municipal Act.

Article 371A provides special protection to the Nagas in Nagaland concerning traditional, customary, religious, and social practices, as well as ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

On December 11 last year, the Supreme Court directed the state government to complete the entire ULB elections process by April 30, 2024.