What happened
Nagaland's ULB elections, held in 2024 after a 20-year delay, produced municipal councils that promptly ran out of cash: Dimapur and Kohima together drew more than Rs 8 crore in one-time salary grants and still couldn't pay their own staff, prompting Urban Development Advisor Zhaleo Rio to order a probe into where the money went. While that probe continues, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joined by nine district chambers, announced an indefinite voluntary shutdown from April 24 to demand nominated seats on those very councils. On the eve of the shutdown, the state government requested two weeks to think about the demand. CNCCI accepted. The shutdown was suspended before a single shutter came down, and the councils still can't pay their staff.