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National Executive Returning Officer, Janata Dal United (JD-U), Aneel Hedge, on Saturday termed the report of party members’ en masse resignation as “incorrect”, clarifying that the people who left were from a particular assembly constituency and has ‘nothing to do with the organisation’.
Addressing a press conference at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur, Hedge said the party has been keenly watching Nagaland for the last five years and the president of the party has given a lot of feedback.
He added that the incumbent Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has made ‘good effort’ to solve the Naga political issue and the JD(U) party appreciates his work.
President of JD(U) Nagaland, Senchumo NSN Lotha opined that the present dispensation, which is run by the coalition government -- NDPP and BJP -- ‘will not be in a position to get the figure required to form the next government’.
He claimed that the alliance will require the support of a third party to the form the government, and the JD(U) will emerge as the third largest party to play that role.
He maintained that as far as the party is concerned, they were not ‘moved by the departure of some officials from particular constituencies’.
“We are very much prepared to face this election and in the next government, we will be a part of the government as long as it is in the interest of the Naga people,” he said.
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Further, he said that as far as issuance of ticket is concerned, the process of application is still on and the filing of nomination will continue till February 7.
However, he said the party is yet to ascertain the number of tickets to be given to intending candidates, except for Imsumongba Pongen who declared earlier in the day as the JD(U) candidate to contest from 4 Ghaspani-I AC.
Dimapur, Feb. 4 (EMN)