EMN
DIMAAPUR, JUNE 14
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) continues to gain significant political grounds in the neighboring state of Manipur, if the results of the recently held elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) are anything to go by.
The regional powerhouse, on Sunday, received a much-needed boost to its ambition of cementing a place as a major player in Manipur politics when eight independent victorious candidates pledged their allegiance to the party here in Kohima.
According to a press statement from the NPF press bureau, the eight victorious independent candidates – four each from Senapati and Chandel districts – were administered with the party’s oath of office and secrecy by the NPF supremo, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu at NPF central headquarters in Kohima.
The eight independent candidates – Tingau Hau, K David Khrasi, L Thomar Luba, RK Thokru (from Senapati) and Manglan Mangsa, Holngam Anal Tongsing Willingson, KT Hare (from Chandel) – have been accepted as associate member of the party “with immediate effect.”
“This development has ensured that the NPF could form the Council in Senapati, in which it had already bagged 11 seats by its own, and with today’s development when all the four Independent candidates have joined the NPF as Associate Members, the NPF has been raised to 15 out of 24 seats,” the press release stated.
Also in Chandel, the addition of four independent candidates has raised the NPF strength to 9, which is second only to the Congress who has 11 seats. It might be noted that the total number of independent councilors in Chandel were 6, out of which 4 had joined the NPF.
“In Ukhrul, the NPF had secured absolute majority of its own by bagging 17 out of 24 seats, while in Tamenglong, though the INC emerged as the single largest party by securing 10 seats, the NPF emerged as the second single-largest party with 8 seats while the BJP – an ally of the DAN Government in Nagaland and the NDA at the Centre – bagged 5, and the remaining seat went to the Independent (candidates),” it stated.
It was informed that the NPF did not field any candidate in Churachandpur where the Congress won 5 seats and the BJP secured one seat. The remaining seats, 18 of them, went to independent candidates, it was informed.
“Though the INC won the highest number of seats (46 out of 140) and the NPF emerged as the second with 43 in its kitty, ratio-wise, the NPF beat the other political parties hands down after 43 out of 86 of its candidates won. Both the INC and the BJP fielded candidates in all the 140 seats.”
Meanwhile, the NPF central office has extended gratitude to the Government of Manipur as well as the Election Commission of India and the State Election machinery for the smooth conduct of the polls in a “free and fair manner.”
It also extended gartitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, for arranging adequate security measures which ensured that anti-social elements did not disrupt the peaceful election campaigns and polling.
In a meeting held today in Kohima, the central office leadership expressed satisfaction with the election results to the Autonomous District Councils and exuded confidence that the NPF will gain strength in the coming years in Manipur.
The party leadership thanked the electorate of the district councils for coming out to exercise their franchise and casting their votes in favor of the NPF party. The meeting was attended by all the eight independent elected members who have joined the NPF.
The high-level meeting of the NPF central office resolved to continue its endeavor to strive for improvement of the living standards of the hills and tribal people of Manipur and to ensure that their rights and dues are not deprived.
“The meeting was of the unanimous opinion that the NPF party will strive for judicious and equitable development of the hill districts at par with the valley in Manipur,” the press release read. It also resolved to endeavor to find an early and honorable solution to the protracted Naga political problem.
