Kohima, March 30: Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Saturday announced to support the former Chief Minister and Congress candidate, K.L.Chishi in the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha election on April 11.
Chishi, 75, the richest candidate with movable and immovable assets worth Rs 36 crore, will fight against outgoing MP Tokheho Yepthomi of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), National People’s Party’s Hayithung Tungoe and Independent M.M. Thromwa Konyak.
Earlier, seven NPF legislators had extended support to Yepthomi who is seeking a re-election. Yepthomi is the consensus candidate of the ruling NDPP-led People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and an Independent member.
NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that the party has decided to lend support to the Congress candidate Chishi, the decision is only for the upcoming election.
“The party has agreed to go by for the secular forces candidate (Congress) together but going together in the ensuing election will not change the stand of the party regionalism nor will it reflect as an alliance partner with them,” he said.
Leader of Opposition and NPF leader, T.R.Zeliang has hit out at those seven NPF rebel legislators for supporting the NDPP candidate.
“They (rebel NPF legislators) have opined not to set up candidate and the support the secular Congress candidate. Tthey may be cheating the people with their false statement, but they have cheated themselves”, Zeliang added.
Stating that the rebel legislators legally are still NPF legislators, Zeliang said every elected MLA is bind by the party constitution and not by any Assembly speaker.
Though the NPF have served the rebel legislators a show cause notice, he said, “ the door for them is still open but within that stipulated time given to them to return, the party will be compel to initiate further course of steps.”
