New Delhi, March 8: This is one rub-off in which the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) may see opportunity.

The misuse of nail polish remover by proxy voters in Nagaland has given momentum to the NSCN (I-M)’s rejection of the election system and a fillip to the demand for a separate constitution.

In order to search for provisions “that could be included in the Naga constitution,” the NSCN (I-M) last year began studying the Constitution.

Rebel groups as well as some politicians in the state say the “Indian” election system is corrupting Naga society. A sub-group formed by the NSCN (I-M) has studied Part XV of the Constitution in depth and even submitted a draft report to its leadership, sources said. This part of the Constitution deals with the election system of the country.

Special emissary of the NSCN (I-M), V.S. Atem, told this correspondent that the NSCN has rejected the “Indian election system” while confirming that the group did study this part of the Constitution.

“We have studied it to see which provisions we can have for a constitution of the Nagas,” he disclosed, requesting anonymity. A team of rebel leaders recently visited New Delhi and called on Australian legal expert Anthony Reagan for consultations. Reagan has been engaged in legal consultations in other conflict zones including East Timor.

Although the Centre has not seriously thought of a separate election system for tribal societies, debates have taken place even at the official level in Nagaland. In fact, chief electoral officer of Nagaland, C.J. Ponraj, conceded that the election process was a “trying” one this year.