NDPP TO FACE INC AFTER POLITICAL DRAMA FOR BY-POLL ENDS IN AONGLENDEN
By election to Mokokchung’s 26 Aonglenden assembly constituency scheduled on April 11, continue to be preceded by political intrigues, when both the National People’s Party (NPP) and Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidates withdrew from the contest on March 28, the last day for withdrawal of nominations and pledged full support to the PDA consensus and NDPP candidate Sharingain Longkumer.
The withdrawal of the two candidates was confirmed to this Correspondent by Abhinav Shivam IAS, SDO (Civil) Mokokchung and Returning Officer for 26 Aonglendent assembly constituency. Shivam informed that NPF candidate Toshipokba and NPP candidate O. Tinujongshi have officially withdrawn their nominations from the by-election. The four-cornered contest will now be a straight contest between the NDPP and Congress.
The deep suspense on March 27 over the “missing NPP candidate Tinujongshi” was solved after the NPP candidate resurfaced on Thursday.
He officially withdrew from the race and then pledged his full support through a written statement, to the consensus candidate of the ruling PDA Sharingain Longkumer of NDPP and the PDA government.
Speculations about NPF was also confirmed when its candidate and former MLA Toshipokba Longkumer also withdrew his nomination on Thursday and then signed a written declaration extending his full support to the NDPP candidate Sharingain Longkumer.
It may be recalled that NPP lost both its MLAs who switched over to NDPP via “merger” after O. Tinujongshi was fielded as NPP candidate against the PDA consensus candidate Sharingain of NDPP.
The two MLAs had objected to the party fielding a candidate since NPP was part of PDA coalition.
Meanwhile, both Toshipokba and Tinujongshi in separate statements but similar contents, have lauded the “progressive change and development, good governance and stability” brought by the PDA government under chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y.Patton.
In a statement, Tinujongshi appreciated the “good governance, progressive development and stability” witnessed in Nagaland after the PDA coalition government took over under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y. Patton.
Tinu said he has withdrawn in favour of NDPP candidate to strengthen the hands of the PDA government and its leadership.
Toshipokba in his statement, appreciated the PDA’s stand as a facilitator to the ongoing Naga peace process for an “early, honourable and inclusive settlement” as another factor for backing the NDPP for the by-election.
He also formally declared his full support to NDPP candidate Sharingain Longkumer. under the “dynamic and visionary leadership” of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y. Patton for the by-election to 26 Aonglenden assembly constituency.
The withdrawal of the NPF and NPP candidates has dealt another blow to the opposition in Nagaland.
The by-election will now be a straight fight between PDA consensus candidate Sharingain Longkumer (NDPP) and Alem Jongshi of the Congress (INC).
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