More town councils oppose women reservation bill

After Tuensang and Zunheboto town councils opposing to 33% women reservation much ahead of municipal / town elections, Medziphema and Phek town councils have also raised its opposition to the women bill. Medziphema Town Council (MTC) unanimously resolved to oppose the bill for municipal and town council bodies. The decision was taken at its coordination meeting held on December 15 with youth and student organization.
MTC president Dosa –U Kuotsu stated that women could contest the elections if they were willing and said that MTC would boycott the elections if it was forced to implement the reservation bill in the forthcoming municipal / town elections.
Meanwhile, Phek Town Council (PTC) members in its monthly sitting on December 7 also unanimously resolved to oppose the 33% women reservation bill for Municipal elections and Town Council Forum.
PTC chairperson Kupota Khesoh stated that it will be organizing a meeting with all NGOs, public leaders and GBs of Phek Town to debate on the women reservation bill.
Meanwhile, in support of Tuli Town Council and Wokha Town Council opposing the 33% reservation of women in civic bodies, the Tseminyu Town Council (TTC) also apprised the state government to “carefully analyze” and study at the “grassroot level”, whether reservation would bring any “fruitful prospects” and “avenues” in developing the society. Chairman, TTC, Hilo Kent in a press statement stated asked government not to make “hasty decision” in this issue as it can “jeopardize” the smooth functions of the civic bodies. This move came about basing its stand on the resolution and decision of the Rengma Hoho, where the Hoho had clearly stated during the All Tribal Naga Hoho meeting at Kohima this year, that reservation for women in civic bodies like Tseminyu Town Council was early because it was hard to find any capable women candidate to represent their respective wards, added the release.
The chairman state government to conduct “intensified revision” of electoral of all Town Councils and Municipalities because not a single summary revision or any intensified revision of electoral roll was conducted, since the inception of TTC in the year 2005.