The apex tribal council, Naga Hoho, has resolved to boycott the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Nagaland, but this time it will not direct the political parties and the electorate to follow the same, leaving the matter to their ‘wisdom’.

The recent meeting of the Hoho here resolved not to participate in the polls, asserting that the solution to Naga political problem is its ‘priority’, not the Lok Sabha elections.

The Hoho along with other NGOs directed the political parties before the last general elections in the State to boycott the polls to ‘give peace a chance’, accordingly opposition parties responded to the call giving a cakewalk victory to the Congress.

But the August 12 Hoho crucial meeting, attended by representatives of different tribal Hohos, decided to leave the matter to the wisdom of political parties to determine their future, Hoho sources said.

The Naga Hoho Summit (NHS) is a conglomeration of different Hohos (councils representing over 25 Naga tribes) inhabiting in the Naga-living areas of Manipur and Nagaland.

The opposition political parties have on many occasions expressed their dismay over the activities of the Naga Hoho, alleging that the apex tribal council failed to implement its ‘words’.

While directing the political parties before the last general elections, the Hoho announced that those who would participate in the polls against the "will of the Naga people" would be declared ‘anti-Nagas’.

But opposition parties alleged that the Naga Hoho totally failed to implement its ‘slogan’ in last one year, putting the opposition parties in a ‘humiliating position’.

Due to non-participation in the polls, Nagaland Peoples’ Council (NPC) stands to lose its recognition with the Election Commission and the EC also freezed the party symbol. BJP state unit and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), another regional outfit, also did not participate in the February 1998 elections in Nagaland.

The Naga Hoho also expressed deep concern over the on-going factional killing which once again vitiated the peaceful atmosphere in the State. "They should stop all such activities... It pains us," Naga Hoho president M Vero said.

Naga Hoho already conveyed its dismay over the ongoing fratricidal animosity to NSCN(I-M) leadership and urged them to abjure the path of violence. Representatives from the Hoho attended the August 14 Independence Day celebration function at NSCN(I-M) headquarters.

Underground organisations in Nagaland have been observing their Independence Day on the eve of the Indian Independence Day since 1947. The then NNC, the first political organisation of the Nagas, under the leadership of legendary Angami Z Phizo declared independence on August 14, 1947.