Kohima: A leading coalition partner of the United Democratic Alliance, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), has announced the names of 40 candidates for the Nagaland Assembly elections scheduled for February 27, according to the coalition agreement.
According to sources, the UDA agreement agreed to seat sharing as 40:20, with 40 seats for the NDPP and 20 seats for the BJP party, and among NDPP candidates were old NDPP members, 8 members of the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF), out of a total of 21 members, including former Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang and K G Kenye, a former Rajya Sabha MP, who en masse joined the NDPP party, and other 7 new faces.
As per the agreement, the Nagaland BJP has announced a list of 20 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in New Delhi. The Central Election Committee of the BJP met on Wednesday under the presidency of JP Nadda.
Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has announced a list of 16 candidates, which it termed the “first phase list” for the February 27 Nagaland polls and informed that more candidates will be announced in the “second phase” on February 5.
Addressing the ticket distribution ceremony at the NPF Central Office in Kohima, NPF President Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu distributed the party tickets to the 15 candidates, however, one candidate, Yangdipi Sangtam, could not turn up at the ticket distribution ceremony.
Dr Shurhozelie stated at the function that the NPF is the only viable regional political party in Nagaland that is deeply rooted in the Naga people’s unique history.On the defection of party members last year, he admitted that the party has faced a setback in the recent past due to the betrayal of our party by the team captain and his players, who scored a suicide goal and at last surrendered to their opponent’s team.
Meanwhile, the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji has reiterated its position to aspiring candidates under its jurisdiction, asking them to refrain from submitting nominations for the upcoming assembly election.
