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The ruling NPF in Nagaland made it clear that as a recognized political party it cannot be an exception to participate in the upcoming state Assembly elections when all Naga NGOs and political parties could not arrive at a consensus on deferment of elections.

In a statement on Friday evening, the NPF, as a party, has also solemnly pledged allegiance to the principle of socialism, secularism and democracy. The party, however, affirmed that its commitment towards solution of the Naga political issue shall continue as in the past while also maintaining that it has always stood for early and honourable solution to the Naga political problem.

The NPF said election scheduled for February 27 is a reality as the government of India has repeatedly stated that holding of timely elections was a constitutional requisite and that the centre was bound by constitutional provisions.

Recalling its past endeavours towards solution to the Naga issue, the NPF said back in 1964, the party’s legislators resigned en masse once ceasefire agreement was signed between the government of India and the Naga nationalist group. In 1998 also, responding to the call of the civil societies and the underground groups, the party had refrained from participating in the Assembly elections which resulted in the Election Commission of India derecognizing the party freezing the symbol of the party, it said.

The party went on to say that on December 15, 2017, the NPF-led DAN government adopted a resolution on the floor of the Assembly to urge the government of India to bring a solution to the Naga political issue before elections, and this resolution was further endorsed by the Central Executive Council of the NPF on January 23, 2018.