Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 15 (EMN): Continuing with the stand of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) party – as was taken by the group led by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu during the NPF’s intraparty dispute – the central office bearers of the now-reconciled NPF on Mon. has affirmed severing ties with long-time ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The implication of the stunning decision, although not entirely unexpected, by the NPF’s hierarchy can only be judged in the aftermath of the Nagaland state assembly elections, which is being expected to be conducted during Feb. /Mar. this year.
Easter Mirror can confirm that this decision was taken during the office bearers’ meeting that was held in the NPF’s central headquarters in Kohima. The aftermath of the elections will now assume significance because, according to a highly reliable source, the officiating members decided that ‘any space for alliance with the BJP in the future will be looked into only after the polls.’
The NPF’s party leaders came to this conclusion after deciding that the party was “against the current stance of the BJP.”
The decision is in line with another which was taken on Jul. 18 2017 after a fallout within the party following a tussle for leadership between Chief Minister TR Zeliang and his predecessor Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu.
“While lamenting that the BJP has decided to foment instability in the state for its own selfish ends in the near future, the NPF has resolved to sever ties with the national party, BJP, with which it has been associated with since 1977,”stated the party’s resolution of Jul. 18.
Then later on Jul. 21 2017 the party organised again what it called a ‘beef feast’ near its central office in Kohima. During the event the NPF’s working president, Huskha Yepthomi, stated that the feast was meant to send the message that the NPF was not under the command of ‘Gau rakshaks (BJP).’
Monday’s meeting iterated and affirmed the leadership of TR Zeliang as the chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming elections. However, the source informed that it was resolved only in principle and was not kept in the ‘written.’
The source informed also that the central office bearers resolved not to allow any of the members of Parliament to leave office in the middle of the term and join state politics.
The current members of Parliament t from Nagaland are Neiphiu Rio in the lower house, and KG Kenye in the upper house.
Also, the meeting resolved that the NPF party would field only ‘winnable’ candidates for the forthcoming elections.
