Kohima, March 15: A group of Naga women have decided to make a foray into politics and their first milestone is the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

At a press meet held here today, the group issued a vision statement titled “Foundation and Framework of Naga Women’s Foray into Politics”. The “initiators”, as they call themselves, also met governor Shyamal Datta. “He congratulated us and told us that the decision should have come 10 years ago,” said Rosemary Jamir, a member of the group.

In another development, the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) issued a three-line whip today to support T.R. Zeliang as the Rajya Sabha candidate. Zeliang filed his nomination papers today.

The group of women had taken the decision to give the electoral run a go at a meeting on International Women’s Day here last week.

The leaders of the group, who refused to be christened, come from fields as varied as journalism and business. Among the main “facilitators” are Monalisa Changkija and Rosemary Dzüvichü.

Some of the other members are Akali Sema, Ayangla Longkumer, V. Solo and Rozelle Mero. Asked if they would go for a backward class candidate, the leaders said they aimed at going beyond tribalism.

Rosemary resigned yesterday as president of the Kohima District Congress Committee to take the plunge for women’s representation in the Lok Sabha. The group has not yet announced its list of candidates.

As far as support for Rajya Sabha nomination is concerned, it could to be tough to get it in the absence of proposers in the Assembly. One of the major election planks of the group will be to fight for women’s representation in the village council and the village development board, where women are represented only marginally at present.

The other electoral issues of the group include a state policy for women, made mandatory by the National Commission on Women. Nagaland has a Women’s Welfare Board to which the women are opposed. The group argues against the use of money in political contests and is confident of making a dent without buying votes. The women refuse to be attached to any political party.

They said support was sure to come, cutting across party lines. “We have decided not to be institutionalised,” Changkija said. The group is also not in favour of 33 per cent reservation for women. Changkija argued that it could also be 50 per cent.