All the candidates of political parties in Nagaland have on Wednesday filed nominations for the upcoming assembly elections despite the diktat of the civil society groups, which called for boycotting of the assembly elections.
Nagaland has 60 seats and the major party, NPF (Naga People’s Front)—a former BJP ally—has filed nominations in 59 out of 60 seats.
The DAN (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland), which was in power, has been virtually destroyed with the walking out of BJP last week when it allied with NDPP (Nationalist Democratic People’s Party), a party floated by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Three days ago the JD (U), another constituent, also left the alliance, making DAN almost irrelevant.
The BJP has filed nominations in 20 seats, though the state leadership wanted to contest in more seats. It left 40 seats to NPF.
“What can we do? The alliance was sealed in Delhi. Being the national party we would have to abide by what they say,” said V Lhonghu, president of Nagaland BJP.
The choice for people of Nagaland would be between NPF and BJP-NDPP alliance. The Congress has decided to contest only in 23 seats.
However, the diktat of civic society group to boycott the polls will continue as the biggest civic society led by Naga Ho Ho asked people not to vote in the assembly election.
Earlier, agreeing to their demand, all the political parties decided not to contest this election unless Centre make progress in the talks with NSCN (I-M) public.
However, they could not stick to their demand as the BJP central leadership asked its state unit to withdraw from the agreement because that would lead to a constitutional crisis in the state of Nagaland. Once BJP withdrew from it, the other parties followed the suit.
Reacting to the break up with BJP, NPF president Surhozelie Lezitsu said, “What can we do? We did not want to allow them more than eight seats. But they would like to contest more. So this is the reason they left us. However, we are sure to win.”
