New Delhi, Feb. 19: Naga peace talks will resume after the Assembly elections in Nagaland on March 5, an event where both “overground and underground” are expected to participate.

Contrary to the expectations, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan’s visit last week to Nagaland had nothing to do with the peace talks in Nagaland.

Though Narayanan reportedly conceded that the peace talks have slowed down, the talks have also been dependent on who rules in the state. Even as UPA president Sonia Gandhi prepares to visit the state later this week, the Centre’s focus firmly remains on wresting Nagaland, a traditional Congress bastion that was lost in 2003.

Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu have been told to extend support to Nagaland Congress leaders during the polls, sources said.

This is one of the reasons why Ibobi is seen to have received a breather from party leaders despite sustained opposition by fellow legislators. Following imposition of President’s rule in the state in January, Narayanan’s maiden visit is being seen as an attempt to understand the security scenario firsthand before the elections. Violence during the elections by militant outfits can be controlled if not avoided, with adequate security, sources said.

The change in the political climate over the past two months in Nagaland has come after the formation of another militant outfit, the NSCN (Unification) in November last with cadres drawn from both NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (Khaplang).

In a parallel development, turmoil in the Neiphiu Rio-led DAN government on December 13 led to President’s rule months before the elections.