[caption id="attachment_166194" align="aligncenter" width="565"]
A section of people that attended the NPF’s rally in Jalukie town on Peren district on Feb. 23.[/caption]
Dimapur, Feb. 24 (EMN): The chief minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang has criticised the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party’s (NPCC) chief ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio allegedly for playing ‘dirty games’ in state politics.
Addressing elections rallies of the NPF at Jalukie and Athibung of Peren district on Feb. 23, the NPF’s chief ministerial candidate questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-NDPP alliance whether or not they ‘trust Rio’s credibility,’ according to a press release from the party.
Zeliang was quoted as having said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ‘denied union minister position’ to Neiphiu Rio after he won the Lok Sabha election ‘because he knew Rio was corrupt and could not accommodate tainted member in his BJP government,’ the NPF’s media cell stated in the press release.
Modi also knew it was Rio ‘who tried to destroy BJP in Nagaland when Congress was in power.’
The chief minister accused Rio of landing the state in a INR 1234 cr. deficit and of ‘attempting to pull down his government on many counts.’
“Rio is not sincere and he tried to destroy even the existence of NPF before he shifted to NDPP. Political crisis started in the state when he attempted to become a union minister but failed and tried to return to state politics,” Zeliang was stated as having said at the rallies.
On NDPP’s candidate Namri, Zeliang said, “Namri will never be able to leave Rio because the former chief minister had offered him free plot of land in Sovima and one JCB.”
Further, the chief minister was quoted as having claimed that his government overcame the crises and ‘development continued.’
Zeliang cautioned the voters to vote wisely for candidates ‘after knowing fully which political party would safeguard the interests of the Nagas.’ He said it was the NPF with “cock” symbol that stood for ‘Naga political solution’ since its inception in 1963.
“In Nagaland, whatever decision is taken by regional party NPF, it is final and nobody can impose anything on it. However, unlike regional party, state units of national parties like BJP cannot take decision on their own as their high commands in Delhi exercise authority over them,” the updates stated of his address.
Expressing hope that the NPF will be forming the state government again with majority, he said that doors were open for a coalition with willing parties. The press release informed that the National People Party, which is fielding 25 candidates, have signed an agreement with the NPF for a coalition. “Other secular parties including independents will also follow suit,” he said.
The chief minister has appealed to the electorate to vote ‘in favour of the longest surviving regional party NPF which protects the interests of the Nagas.’
