Kohima, Feb 6: With a day remaining for the filing of nomination for the upcoming 13th Nagaland State Assembly Election 20 candidates belonging to Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF), the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (U) had filed nomination at the time of filing this story (3.30pm)
Report reaching here said Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) was the first to file his papers for the February 27 Nagaland Assembly polls.
Dr Nicky Kire, who had recently joined the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), was reported to be filing his nomination papers from Kohima Town AC.
Yesterday NDPP releases a lists of 38 candidates for this election. BJP and NDPP have agreed to share seats at which BJP contest in 20 seats while the remaining 40 seats will be contested by the NDPP.
The deadline for filing of nomination papers expires at 3 pm on February 7, and till February 5 none of the candidates contesting for the 60-seat state Assembly had filed their nomination papers.
Earlier, 11 political parties including the NPF had resolved not to contest in the poll. The NSCN-IM on the other hand had directed people not to contest in the election as they prefer a solution to the vex Naga issue.
The core committee of civil organisations and tribal bodies had also declared that anyone contesting the elections against “the wishes of the Naga people” would be branded as “anti-Naga.”
But the lukewarm response to the statewide bandh called by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO), and supported by the Naga insurgent groups, ensured that the electoral process remained on track.
Earlier today morning, Nagaland BJP campaign committee in-charge, M Chuba confirmed that BJP candidates would start filing nominations as the BJP is a national party and adheres to the constitutional process. He attributed the delay in filing nominations to late declaration of candidates.