Rio, Pusa file nominations for LS polls

Nagaland chief minister and DAN candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state Neiphiu Rio and Congress candidate K.V. Pusa filed their nominations Thursday afternoon.
Rio’s nomination was proposed by Northern Angami-II NPF committee president Peter Kuotsu while K.V Pusa’s nomination was proposed by Kohima District Congress president Prasielie Pienyu respectively.
Rio was accompanied by NPF working president Apong Pongener and other while Pusa was accompanied by CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi, MLA Imtikumzuk, former Lok Sabha MP, Wangnyu Konyak who is also the stand by candidate for the polls and other party members.
As Neiphiu Rio returned after filing nomination, state BJP president Dr. Chuba Ao and JU (D) Nagaland president Mhonjan Lotha and other party workers greeted him with bouquet.
Meanwhile, interacting with media persons after his nomination, Pusa said if voted, his priority would be the “welfare for the people” and development in Eastern Nagaland areas. He the Congress would stress on prosperity, secularism and peace in the state.
On the NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu’s comment during NPF ticket distribution ceremony Wednesday, that some senior Congressmen have extended their support to Rio, Pusa said Congress and NPF were two different political parties with different clear cut policies and appealed NPF not to meddle in the internal affairs of the Congress.
On Neiphiu Rio’s comment that Congress was not a party for the Nagas, K.V Pusa said Rio was in the wrong track adding, “we are very much with the Nagas, functioning under the Constitution.
CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi on the occasion informed that AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi was likely to campaign in Kohima and Dimapur but dates were yet to be finalized.
Tokheho said if Rio won the election, he would be leaving Nagaland with more Rs. 2000 crore deficit. He however added that nothing was certain as Nagas will decide the outcome.
Congress MLA Imtikumzuk asserted that BJP was a communal party which Naga Christians out to ponder over.
Congress stand-by candidate and former Lok Sabha MP Wangnyu Konyak said Rio’s intention for contesting in the election was for two reasons: “Rio wants to become minister if NDA comes to power and he could not run the state since there is no money and will be leaving with Rs. 2000 crores deficit.” Meanwhile it was also learnt that Socialist Party (India) candidate Akhei Achumi is to file his nomination on Friday afternoon.