NPF MLA and Secretary General Achumbemo Kikon (File Photo)
Kohima, April 28 (MExN): The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Tuesday cautioned that a population-based delimitation exercise would marginalise smaller states like Nagaland in an expanded Lok Sabha, reducing their voice in national decision-making.
Addressing the party seminar at its central headquarters in Kohima, NPF MLA and Secretary General Achumbemo Kikon said Nagaland had been represented by only one Member of Parliament for nearly six decades and argued that any delimitation exercise based solely on population ignores the state's historical, political and tribal realities.
“Nagaland, being a special state formed under unique political circumstances, deserves enhanced parliamentary representation,” Kikon said, calling for a broader consensus through engagement with tribal leaders to build a common stand on the issue.
Kikon reiterated the party's full support for women’s reservation and stressed the need for unity and awareness among party members on key policy issues. On the state’s financial situation, he said a major portion of the budget was consumed by salaries and fixed expenditures, leaving limited room for development spending.
Asserting that grassroots outreach is central to electoral success, Kikon called for stronger leadership and better coordination at the central, divisional and constituency levels, noting that recent tours had tested the party's grassroots strength and that workers played a key role in converting public support into votes.
Reminding party members of the NPF's founding philosophy, Kikon said the party's purpose went beyond seeking power. “We formed this party to protect the interests of our people, to look after the welfare of our people, and furthermore, to defend our land, our rights, including our family. That is the core philosophy of this party,” he said.
