Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 17 (EMN): The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Wed. refuted reports that the “NPF turns its back on former ally BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party),” which appeared in Eastern Mirror on Jan. 16. The party termed the news ‘mischievous.’ The news item carried some points of discussions held during the meeting of the Central Office Bearers (COB) of the party on Jan.15. It was mentioned that any space for alliance with the BJP in the future would be looked into only after the polls.
A note of clarification issued by the media and press bureau of the central NPF at Kohima refuted the report stating that “the COB in its meeting discussed about party’s decision taken on July 18, 2017 severing ties with BJP. There were queries from among the members in the meeting whether the party could review its decision. The matter was discussed and concluded that since the subject matter was beyond the brief/ power of the COB to discuss, the same should go to CEC again and, for that reason, the President was empowered to convene CEC meeting at the earliest convenient time”.
‘The caption given in the newspaper is mischievous, incorrect and misleading. We are aware that many political leaders are trying to woo the BJP to become its allies. And the NPF has no objections for such attempts, but the party want to advise them that they should not play calculated mischief in the manner stated above.’
Through a reliable source Eastern Mirror reported that the party's meeting resolved to field only winnable candidates for the forthcoming elections. However, the party denied that the COB meeting discussed tickets for the ensuing elections. ‘COB has no power to say anything about allotting party ticket to anyone including the sitting legislators and MPs.’
Maintaining their affirmation on ‘solution before election,’ the party clarified that it was yet to know whether or not the elections would come in time when so many people and organisations have woken up from their slumber and have started to talk about solution to the Naga political problem at the moment.
“The party is for solution of the Naga political problem from the beginning till date and, therefore, the party is keeping silent and awaiting the outcome. The only thing that we discussed in the meeting was that we do not want to repeat the 1998 experience and hand over the Government as a free gift to some political parties” it stated .
The press release also talked about what it called the resolutions that were adopted during the meeting of the COB on Jan. 15. The statement read that it, “Empowers the president of the NPF Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu to convene a meeting of the Central Executive Council at the earliest convenient date; endorses the decision of the party president revoking all suspension/expulsion orders of the NPF workers/ office bearers of the divisional/ area units and restoring their primary and active membership with effect from Jan. 12, 2018; and urges all party rank and file to bury the past differences, come together in the true spirit of reconciliation and strive for the betterment of the party at all levels and the Naga society”.
However, there were no clarifications from the party either on the condition that the COB laid for members of Parliament restraining them to join state politics in the middle of their tenures, or on the reaffirmation of the chief ministerial candidate.
The clarification issued by the party, along with the resolutions urging all party workers to bury the hatchet, comes at a time when some prominent members have now officially left the party.
