The UNC imposed the ban in protest against what it termed as the lack of political will on the part of the government to address its demand for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur.
The decision to suspend the ban was taken during its presidential meeting convened at Tahamzam in Senapati district on Saturday last, a UNC statement issued by its publicity wing said. The decision was taken in view of the fact that the ban would not be relevant when the election code of conduct is effective and the election process remains incomplete, the statement said, adding that, the decision would , however, be reviewed after the installation of a popular government in Manipur.
To elect sixty legislators for the 10{+t}{+h} state assembly, Manipur went to the polls on January 28. In the crucial fight, the UNC supported the Naga People's Front (NPF) that fielded 12 candidates in the hills after taking into account "the commonality in principle and ideology with the NPF on the political agenda of the Nagas."
During a huge public meeting at Kangla fort in the heart of Imphal on December 3 last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said work on the 125 km railway from Jiribam subdivision to Imphal via Tupul was likely to be completed by March 2016, while the Jiribam-Tupul portion was scheduled to be completed by March 2014.
Denouncing the state government's alleged attempt to bifurcate Naga-dominated areas to create new districts, the UNC had also imposed a 100-day economic blockade on Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Silchar routes last year.