Naga party fights for a voice in Manipur

The upcoming election in Manipur is more than a battle of ballots to Naga People’s Front (NPF) as it is fighting it for a cause.

NPF, the ruling party of Nagaland, has fielded 12 candidates in Naga-dominated hill districts. Arguably, it cannot grab power even if all of them win. But it will certainly have a voice in the assembly to promote the contentious demand of ‘Greater Nagaland’.

Aware of this agenda of the NPF, the Manipur government debated the matter in the assembly but could not prevent the party from Nagaland entering the poll fray as NPF is recognised by the Election Commission. The Nagas envisage a unified homeland of their people, scattered in Manipur besides Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The three neighbours are opposed to the idea as it will entail ceding large swathes of their land. 

This election, the NPF is being seen as their messiah by the Nagas in Manipur. Thousands followed its leader and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio every place that he visited for campaigning.

“The NPF stands for the Nagas wherever they are. The Nagas
have our own identity and history, yet we’ve suffered for too long. It’s time for the Nagas to come together and determine our own history,” Rio said during campaigning.  

“The NPF is the only platform for Naga voice. It will continue to stand up for the rights of the Nagas,” he said.