Kohima, March 27 (NationPress) The Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026, proposed in the Nagaland Assembly on March 26 to enhance economic and constitutional authority for six districts representing seven marginalized tribes, has been postponed to the forthcoming urgent session of the House.

Nagaland's Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Paton presented the Bill on Thursday (March 26), with an initial plan for it to be reviewed and passed on Friday (March 27).

However, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio informed the assembly that, responding to a request from the Government of India—an entity involved in the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)—and in light of appeals from both the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU), the government opted to defer the Bill.

He highlighted the necessity to ensure that the MoA's provisions are addressed in a legally sound and constitutionally valid manner before moving forward.

The Chief Minister noted that on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) communicated that the matter regarding legislative powers for the FNTA, previously raised by the state government, is still under review. The MHA is currently seeking the opinion of the Solicitor General of India on this issue.

Following this, the state government has been advised to grant the MHA additional time and to pause any further actions regarding the FNTA Bill until the MHA's insights and recommendations are received, Rio stated.

He further shared that the ENLU had sent a letter to the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs on Thursday evening. This letter referenced an earlier request from the ENPO dated March 26, urging the government to delay the FNTA Bill's passage until all concerns are thoroughly addressed and clarity regarding the MoA is achieved.

An official statement previously indicated that this agreement would facilitate the establishment of the FNTA for the six underdeveloped districts—Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator—along with the delegation of authority over 46 subjects to the new authority.

Since 2010, the ENPO has been advocating for either the establishment of a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ or full statehood for the six eastern districts, which are home to seven backward tribes—Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung.

Rio reaffirmed that the state government is dedicated to fulfilling the provisions of the MoA signed on February 5, 2026, between the Government of India, the Nagaland government, and the ENPO for the establishment of the FNTA. He added that the FNTA Bill, 2026, was developed by the Law and Justice Department as part of this initiative.

The Chief Minister also observed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended the signing of the agreement, has expressed his desire to inaugurate the FNTA by April 2026, with the state government making coordinated efforts to adhere to this timeline.