Kolkata: The deadline to file nominations for Nagaland Assembly elections ends at 3pm on Wednesday and the entries received so far conceal more than they reveal.
By Tuesday night, 22 candidates expressed willingness to contest elections for the 60-seat Assembly. These candidates, however, represent just 17 constituencies, indicating that there are still no takers for a majority of the Assembly segments.
Of the 22 interested candidates, eight are from the Nationalistic Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), seven from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), six from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one from Janata Dal (United). The BJP has already formed a pre-poll alliance with the NDPP on a 20:40 seat-sharing arrangement.
The first nomination was filed by NPF candidate and state home minister Kuzholuzo Nienu on Tuesday afternoon from the 19 Phek constituency.
Dr Nicky Kire, a recent entrant in the NDPP, was reportedly the second to file his papers from Kohima Town.
Uncertainty loomed large over the February 27 elections in Nagaland after 11 major political parties, including the BJP and the ruling NPF, signed a joint declaration to boycott the polls.
The decision was prompted by a demand from the state’s insurgent outfits, tribal organisations and civil groups to delay elections till a solution to the long-pending Naga peace talks over the issue of Nagalim or Greater Nagaland could be found.
While the BJP has already backed out of its poll boycott pledge, the NPF and the Congress have also followed suit. It is anticipated that a significant number of nominations would be filed on the last day ensuring that the elections are held on time.
Comments
0 comment