Kohima, March 29: The traditional tribal bodies of Nagaland have threatened to boycott the civic polls in the State unless the government guarantees that reserving 33% of the seats for women would not violate the provisions of Article 371A of the Constitution of India.

The first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly concluded on Tuesday with Members of the House adopting a resolution to repeal the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001.

The repeal of the Act was necessitated following the strong protest from various tribal hohos and civil societies demanding total review of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001.

The tribal organisations and civil society groups are demanding that elections be held only after amending the Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA), 2001, which they contend, infringes upon Article 391(A) of the Constitution that gives special rights to Nagas on their lands and its resources, and safeguards their customs and traditions.

The State Election Commission has notified elections to three municipal councils and 36 town councils on May 16, with 33 per cent reservation for women.

The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) also said it would not allow the conduct of civic polls until NMA, 2001 was repealed.

The Hohos adopted a seven-point resolution topped by the demand for reviewing and rewriting the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001, which vested in every municipality the power to acquire property and levy taxes apart from paving the way for the reservation of seats for women.

Describing the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 as a “borrowed” piece of legislation, the Hohos said any part or Section of this Act infringing upon the provisions of Article 371A should be overhauled “in complete consonance with the voices of the Naga people.”

The Hohos asked the government to give a guarantee to the people of Nagaland that the reservation of 33% of the seats for women would not violate the provisions of Article 371A. They assured cooperation in the conduct of the ULB polls if their demands are fulfilled in time.

Threatening to boycott the polls if the government goes ahead with the ULB polls without fulfilling the demands, the Hohos said action would be taken against anyone found violating their resolutions.