Chumoukedima, Nagaland, June 11 (HBTV): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has declared as a ‘significant risk’ the election of non-Naga individuals to local municipal positions.  Further, the students’ organization has called for exclusion of Naga women married to non-Naga individuals from contesting in the elections.   

The NSF issued a press statement on Tuesday emphasizing that the voice and aspirations of the indigenous Naga populations should be authentically represented in all decision-making processes.           

The NSF’s statement comes amid a flurry of nomination-filing for the urban local body elections in Nagaland.

‘Electing non-Naga individuals to local governance positions poses a significant risk to the preservation of our cultural heritage. Such appointments could disrupt the traditional systems that have long sustained our communities and dilute the cultural legacy that defines us as a people,’ the NSF stated.   

The organization has advocated reserving the municipal and town election contest exclusively for indigenous Naga individuals of Nagaland state.  

‘Candidates must be Nagas by blood, not by adoption. Furthermore, the NSF strongly advocates for the exclusion of women married to non-locals from contesting in these elections,’ the NSF stated.     

“This stance is rooted in a deep-seated understanding of the intrinsic connection between governance, culture, and identity, which collectively shape the socio-political landscape of Nagaland,” the federation stated.