Naga body ENPO withdraws polls boycott call

KOHIMA: The influential Naga body Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) on Saturday withdrew its call to boycott the February 27 Assembly polls. The boycott call was withdrawn after the ENPO received an assurance from the Central government regarding its demand for a separate 'Frontier Nagaland' state. ENPO secretary W Manwang Konyak told IANS that the organization has withdrawn the boycott call after getting an assurance from the Central government that its separate 'Frontier Nagaland' state demand would be considered.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his happiness over the NPO's decision to withdraw the boycott call.

He tweeted: "I am grateful for their positive gesture reaffirming ENPO's commitment to democratic processes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made untiring efforts to assure the people of Northeast that the government is with them and the ENPO's move is an approval of these endeavours."

"It is heartening that in an expression of trust in the Modi government, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) in Nagaland has withdrawn its call to boycott the assembly elections. The decision will help in keeping the ongoing process of peace & development unhindered," Shah said in a separate tweet. (IANS)