Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir called upon the Naga people not to be confused about the elections held under the Constitution of India and the political dialogue that has been going on between the Government of India and the Naga undergrounds. Explaining his as well as Congress’s positions in respect of Indian elections, the Nagaland Chief Minister said all of them had taken the oath of allegiance to the "Constitution of India" to become Ministers, MLAs, Chief Minister and Member of Parliaments.

"We know very well that whatever we are doing today is under the Constitution of India", the Chief Minister told this Correspondent here. "So long we function under the Constitution of India; I think we should be honest to our oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India, because it has got nothing to do with the political dialogue that has been going on between the Government of India and the Naga underground groups". The Chief Minister also admitted that VS Atem, then NSCN (IM) Naga Army Chief spoke to him prior to the last general election in the state not to participate in it (election). "I said no to him", said Jamir, adding, "As far as we are concerned, we are having elections under the Constitution of India guided by the Representatives of People’s Act and not disturbing ongoing political dialogue".

Jamir said that was how he could explain to the then NSCN (IM) Naga Army Chief the differences between the Centre-NSCN (IM) political dialogue and the elections held under the Constitution of India. This, Jamir stated, was the clear manifestation of the far-sightedness of the Congress party towards its own "policies and programs".

"And we are very honest to our commitment", he pointed out. "Perhaps other political parties have not expressed their own views and opinions even to the underground when they were asked to boycott". The Nagaland Chief Minister would certainly go down in the history of Naga political issue when he defied calls mounted by Naga Hoho and various Naga NGOs including NSCN (IM) not to participate in the last general election in 1998 in view of the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and NSCN (IM).

It was Congress party under his leadership that went ahead and took part in the last general election in Nagaland in 1998 by taking a firm stand like a rock against the wave of pressures from various organizations including Naga Hoho. However all the opposition political parties in the State including State BJP unit gave response to the call of the Hoho and other NGOs. The election of 1998 in Nagaland assumed significance because it happened just after six months of the historic signing of the "Cease-fire Agreement" between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) in July 25, 1997. The Naga Hoho and other NGOs had demanded the Center not to impose any election which might jeopardize ongoing peace process because besides urging them (Center) to postpone the election.

Although, it was declared that those who defied the call of the Naga Hoho and NGOs would be treated as "anti-Naga", several political parties have now realized it was their sheer folly of not participating in the last general election in Nagaland resulting a walkover to the Congress party that is still in power in the State today without any opposition. Even former National BJP President Kushabhao Thakre has termed as "blunder" of their not taking part in the last general election in Nagaland.