Kohima : Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday reiterated the Nagaland government’s commitment to securing an early and honourable resolution of the long-pending Naga political issue, while also highlighting the recent agreement paving the way for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

Delivering his maiden address since assuming office in August 2025 during the Eighth Session of the Fourteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly at the NLA Hall in Kohima, the Governor outlined the state government’s policy priorities, developmental initiatives and ongoing efforts to foster peace and inclusive growth.

Extending greetings to members at the commencement of the session, Bhalla expressed confidence that the House would engage in meaningful and constructive deliberations while upholding democratic values. He noted that the present government is nearing the completion of three years in office and has endeavoured to honour the mandate and trust reposed in it by the people of the state.

Placing special emphasis on the Naga political issue, the Governor said the government remains steadfast in its pursuit of a peaceful and negotiated settlement through dialogue and cooperation.

He informed the House that a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has been constituted, comprising ministers, elected representatives from all tribes, political parties and Members of Parliament from Nagaland. The committee, he said, has also formed a sub-committee to streamline and intensify efforts aimed at facilitating dialogue.

Bhalla further disclosed that the Chief Minister, along with Cabinet colleagues, recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. During the meeting, they urged the Centre to appoint an interlocutor at the political or ministerial level to expedite the ongoing talks and move towards an early and honourable solution.

The Governor underscored that sustained engagement and cooperation between the state and the Centre remain crucial to resolving the decades-old issue and ensuring lasting peace and stability in Nagaland.

Highlighting what he described as a significant milestone, Bhalla said that on February 5, 2026, the Government of Nagaland signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Government of India and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for the establishment of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority within the state.

He termed the agreement a landmark step towards ensuring equitable and inclusive development in Eastern Nagaland, a region that has long articulated demands for greater administrative and developmental focus.

The Governor assured the House that the state government would extend full cooperation in advancing progress across all sections of society and ensuring that the objectives of the agreement are realised in letter and spirit. He also conveyed gratitude to the Centre for its support and guidance in finalising the pact.

Bhalla informed members that the government is working towards constituting an Interim Council for the FNTA in consultation with ENPO and the tribal hohos of Eastern Nagaland. He added that a special legislation for the formal establishment of the authority will be enacted in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, as stipulated in the agreement.

 In his address, the Governor also drew attention to the upcoming Census exercise. He stated that India’s decennial Census, formally notified on June 16, 2025, will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase in Nagaland scheduled from July 1 to July 30, 2026.

According to the Governor, the self-enumeration option will be available from June 16 to June 30, 2026, followed by the population enumeration phase in February 2027.

Urging all legislators to extend full cooperation, Bhalla emphasised the importance of ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the Census in the state, noting that accurate data is essential for effective planning, resource allocation and policy formulation.

As the Assembly session commenced, the Governor’s address set the tone for discussions centred on peace, institutional development and administrative preparedness, signalling the government’s intent to balance political dialogue with governance and developmental priorities.