The Naga People’s Front (NPF) issued tickets to Toshipokba Longkumer for by-election to Aonglenden Assembly constituency in Nagaland and to Lorho S Pfoze for the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency in Manipur at the party’s central office in Kohima.
Candidate for the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency Pfoze said Manipur has more problems than anyone could imagine. “There had been times when the government even went to the extent that Nagas don’t exist in Manipur. But, with the arrival of NPF in Manipur, the Nagas in the state gained a standing ground from where they could be promoted,” he added.
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However, the party neither named nor issued ticket for the Nagaland parliamentary constituency.Addressing the ticket-giving ceremony, NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu said the party will declare its candidate for the Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland in a day or two.
“Some good candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat are on the cards. We are examining how best the party can work out to see that secular forces work together,” he said. NPF legislators from Nagaland and Manipur attended the programme. Opposition leader TR Zeliang said, “Since there are two contenders for the Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland, the party will deliberate further considering what is best for it.” He also summarily dismissed the rumours that the NPF legislators were divided and requested the people not to give “credence to rumours”.
Zeliang said the Aonglenden Assembly constituency has become the most crucial seat considering the present circumstances. The outcome of the by-election will help the NPF increase its legislators’ strength to 27 from 26, he said.
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“It is a step towards acquiring the magic number of 31 in the six-member Nagaland House which will enable the party to form the next government,” Zeliang added. By-poll candidate Longkumer said the election to Aonglenden constituency will be a “crucial and tough contest. Therefore, I will utilise all my resources to win it”.