Guwahati, April 01: The civic bodies polls in Nagaland, which were scheduled to be held on May 16, have been caught in a logjam after the state election commission cancelled the March 9 notification. The notification had announced the conduct of elections in three municipal bodies and 36 town councils.

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) has decided to repeal the existing municipal law, which has reference to the conduct of elections to urban local bodies (ULBs), leading to the cancellation of the March 9 notification until further orders, according to a notification issued by the state election commissioner, T Mhabemo Yanthan.

The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has opposed the decision to repeal the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 and has taken exception to the fact that it was done without any civil dialogue or consultation with women. The NMA statement stated that the two women MLAs remained silent during deliberations on this issue in the Assembly session and abstained from objecting or dissenting to the passing of this repeal bill.

“Naga women take cognizance of the fact that the two women MLAs remained silent during deliberations on this issue in the Assembly session as well as abstaining from objecting or dissenting to the passing of this repeal bill,” the NMA statement stated.