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Our Correspondent Kohima, August 12
CM Chang is officially now the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) candidate to contest the bye elections to the 51 Noksen Assembly Constituency. The bye polls are scheduled for September 4. DAN comprises NPF BJP and JD (U). CM Chang, who is also Lok Sabha MP, will contest the polls on an NPF ticket. The presidents of the three parties Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu (NPF), Dr M Chuba Ao (BJP Nagaland) and Mhonjan (JD-U Nagaland) officially handed over the ticket to Chang at the NPF office on Monday. CM Chang had won the Noksen A/C in the state assembly elections held earlier in February this year. Subsequently, in early March he resigned his MLA seat compelling the Election Commission to conduct bye polls in the constituency within six months of the seat lying vacant. Addressing the ticket distribution ceremony, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called upon the DAN party workers not to be complacent for being in the ruling alliance. Rio said it was time for the DAN partners to demonstrate the unity and alliance spirit so as to win the election by a record margin. He lauded the alliance partners BJP and JD(U) for arriving at a consensus to field Chang as the DAN candidate. Rio said the NCP is also extending outside support to the NPF-led DAN government and NCP leaders should be pursuaded to support the consensus candidate. Last time the BJP and JD(U) had also fielded candidates to the 51 Nokesen A/C. Rio also suggested setting up a DAN election campaign committee and also an assessment team to study the position of the DAN candidate before the polling day. NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu called upon the party workers of the alliance partners to remain sincere on the decision and uphold the party policies and programmes. State BJP President Dr M Chuba Ao and JD (U) President Mhonjan reciprocating Rio’s call for a show of unity said they agreed on a consensus candidate to promote the alliance spirit and also to strengthen the DAN relationship forged in 2003. In his acceptance speech, Chang said Noksen assembly constituency had been a stronghold of the Congress since Nagaland got the statehood. But his victory in the February 2013 election broke the Congress bastion and expressed optimism that the regional party will continue to wrest the seat. NPF working president Apong Pongener chaired the ticket distribution ceremony while Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board and MLA P. Longon tendered the vote of thanks. CM Chang will file his nomination on August 16 in Tuensang