Correspondent
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 19
THE Naga Peoples Front (NPF) today cleared the name of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to contest the forthcoming general elections for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland.
NPF secretary general KG Kenye said with the submission of the final report of the NPF Search Committee on February 1, a crucial closed-door meeting of the NPF party was held at its central office here under the chairmanship of party president Dr Shürhozolie Lizietsu today.
He said the NPF Search Committee had recommended Rio’s name as the party’s official candidate to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha election for the lone parliamentary seat of the State.
After discussing the pros and cons of the recommendation of the Search Committee, no NPF leader opposed the candidature of Rio, he said adding that “it was decided to accept the proposal of the committee”.
Nevertheless, Kenye said though the decision has been taken in favour of Rio’s candidature in today’s NPF meeting, his candidature will now be put before other coalition partners in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) in tomorrow’s DAN Coordination Committee meeting. DAN is a pre-poll alliance comprising NPF, BJP and JD(U).
The meeting, scheduled to be held in the NPF Central office from 11 am onwards, will decide on whether Rio would be the consensus candidate of the DAN.
Mention may be made here that two alliance partners in DAN - BJP and JD(U) - have already objected to the decision of the NPF Search Committee in proposing the name of Rio without consulting the coalition partners. They said the Lok Sabha candidate should be from their parties.
Myanmar Nagas excited
Meanwhile, Myanmar Nagas are excited about the possibility of Rio contesting forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. They extended moral support to him in his new venture.
In a release today, Naga Yoeya president Myat Ko said Rio is a man who is able to deliver what he promises and is someone who has the skill and the capacity to bring Nagas forward in particular and the country in general.
“With his heart and passion for development, we need someone like him in the leadership,” the release said.. He is a leader who is aware of national geo-politics and is capable of steering the Nagas into 21st century for development and prosperity, the Myanmar Nagas stated.
Besides, Rio has great concern for the Myanmar Nagas while referring to his recent visit to Myanmar wherein at meetings with the top leadership of Myanmar, he focused on development of Myanmar Nagas.
