The Nagaland government expressed optimism on Wednesday regarding the ongoing discussions with the Centre and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) over the demand for the creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), which would consist of six eastern districts of the state.

ENPO, which has long sought a separate state for these districts, agreed last month to temporarily accept the Centre’s proposal for a mechanism that would grant the region a certain level of autonomy.

A tripartite meeting on the FNT issue was held on January 15 in Chumoukedima district, where Nagaland’s senior minister and government spokesperson, K.G. Kenye, said that the talks are progressing well. He expressed hope that both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and ENPO will approach the matter with sincerity and reason, acknowledging that not all demands can be met immediately but emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue.

Kenye indicated that it may take some time for both sides to evaluate the outcomes of the January 15 meeting. He reiterated that ENPO had made it clear that any agreement would require financial, executive, and legislative autonomy.

ENPO president A. Chingmak Chang reaffirmed that the organisation would not accept the proposed FNT under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which allows for the establishment of Autonomous District Councils in northeastern states. Instead, ENPO is seeking the retention of Article 371A, which grants Nagaland special constitutional provisions, and a governance arrangement similar to the regional council system that existed between 1964 and 1974.

The state government is also consulting with other regional councils, such as the Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam, to explore how similar systems are managed. However, Kenye emphasized that Nagaland’s situation is unique and that the demands of ENPO require a distinct solution.

Kenye further stated that the MHA’s proposals have been reviewed and are considered acceptable by the state government, though specific details were not disclosed. The government aims to hold frequent meetings to expedite the resolution of the matter.

The ENPO has long claimed that the eastern districts of Nagaland have been neglected since the state’s formation in 1963, leading to its demand for statehood that has been raised since 2010. In support of this demand, ENPO recently boycotted the 2024 Lok Sabha and Urban Local Body elections.

The six districts at the heart of the FNT demand—Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator—are home to several indigenous Naga tribes, including the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung, and parts of the Sema tribe.