Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Wednesday has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Nationalist Democratic People’s Party (NDPP) candidate of 11-Northern Angami-II and founder leader of the party, Neiphiu Rio.
NPF central office alleged that Rio’s supporters obstructed NPF candidate Chupfu-o from filing his papers on Wednesday.
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NPF general secretary, S Akho Leyri in a complaint letter addressed to the principal secretary (political parties) of the EC stated that Chupfu-o was obstructed from filing his papers by supporters of Rio near Nerhema village.
Leyri has also urged the Election Commission to take necessary action immediately.
Chupfu-o, however, managed to file his nomination papers 15 minutes before the closing time at 3 pm, according to official sources.
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Meanwhile, the newly formed NDPP has countered the allegation.
In another letter to the principal secretary of ECI, the NDPP stated that Chupfu-o’s entourage was caught in a traffic jam for some time and that it was not a deliberate attempt by party workers.
The letter also denounced the NPF for taking advantage of the situation to ‘accuse’ Neiphiu Rio, a veteran politician.
NDPP reiterated that Rio was well acquainted with the model code of conduct as well as the regulations set for the contesting candidates.
Such allegation was ‘baseless, devoid of proof and laced with malafide intent to defame the party and the candidate to gain political mileage,’ the NDPP letter stated.