After failure to make all political parties adhere to their commitment not to participate in the February 27 election in favour of solution and also the lukewarm response to the state-wide bandh on February 1, the efforts of the CCNTHCO and the dire warnings by the Naga national groups have gone unheeded, political parties were now prepared to contest the forthcoming assembly polls.
The February 1 bandh evoked no response in most of the districts except for Dimapur, Mokokchung and Zunheboto. The interesting aspect of the February 1 bandh was the absence of ‘enforcers’ in districts where tribe organizations and civil society groups opted for bandh.
After the state BJP unit suspended its representatives for appending signature to the resolution at the CCNTHCO meeting on January 29 not set up candidates for the February 27 election, it was clear that this would have a cascading effect. This led the NPF to decide to also announce its participation and followed suit by other parties.
All the political parties were now geared up to fight the polls and issue tickets to the candidates in the coming days.
BJP: Putting all speculations to rest, State BJP unit was the first party to formally declare that the party would “contest the ensuing Assembly election for the cause of solution” to Naga political problem.
Clarifying that the party was all for early solution to the present Naga imbroglio, BJP added that it would be part of the system to implement all agreements that would be reached the Government of India and negotiating parties.
The party’s assertion followed a meeting between the BJP delegation from Nagaland, led by state president, Visasolie Lhonugu and accompanied by former state president Dr. M. Chuba Ao and former Home minister Y. Patton, and party’s national general secretary Ram Madhav in New Delhi on Thursday.
During the meeting, the state team apprised the Central leader about the present political situation in Nagaland, a release issued by BJP media cell said. After a thorough deliberation, it was agreed upon that BJP would contest the February 27 election, the party said.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and party’s Election Management Committee co-convenor, Mmhonlumo Kikon informed that the BJP Nagaland was in the “final stage of stitching together an alliance for the forthcoming elections.” Mmhonlumo chose to keep his cards close to his chest when he informed that BJP was in discussion with all the parties for finalising the seat-sharing alliance by Friday.
NPF: Ruling NPF party sources also informed the Correspondent that the party was all set to go ahead and likely distribute tickets by this week. Sources also said that the party will not field candidates in all the 60 constituencies, but would setup over 20 new faces in the coming polls. It was also informed that NPF may not contest in Northern Angami-II (Kohima) and Tizit.
NDPP: NDPP working president, Alemtemshi Jamir informed that the final decision of the party would be made known after Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio’s return from Delhi on Friday.
JD-U: State JD-U convenor, NSN Lotha also informed that the party was prepared to contest since all other political parties have decided to do so.
NPCC: Congress party has cleared the air to contest the election and was all set to release its manifesto and issue tickets to candidates by next week. Sources said Congress will be issuing tickets to over 30 candidates.
Meanwhile in a press note, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) media cell said since all political parties, including NPF and BJP, were gearing up to participate in the polls, it too would soon release its election manifesto where the future of everyone would be assured.
NPCC did not lose the opportunity to attack the BJP by describing its decision to go against CCNCTHO resolution as “belligerent”. NPCC said this has led to forced elections against the wishes of the people and civil societies and would be remembered for all times to come. NPCC accused BJP of allegedly planning to “flood the State with money” to lure candidates and buy voters. It said BJP simply brushed aside the January 29 joint declaration and made a scapegoat out of their senior party functionary.
Further cautioning against sinking into Hindutva fold, NPCC feared that, with the mushrooming of Hindutva agents encouraged by NPF-BJP government to set up educational and other business establishments, Nagaland might soon be engulfed by Hindutva forces in the near future.
NPCC also termed as “ironic” that candidates who abhor BJP and its ideology were readily joining the parties aligned with the saffron party. “Our people should be wise enough to reject those candidates who think the voters are gullible enough to be taken for a ride,” it added.
Finally, the NPCC release also appealed to the people to make a wise decision of rejecting BJP and its allies like NPF.
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