Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 18 (EMN): The Naga People's Front (NPF) party on Friday formed a committee to take a decision on the election to the Upper House which will be held by the end of this month.
In the event of an election, voting to fill Nagaland’s lone seat in the Rajya Sabha (RS) will be held on March 31 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Assembly Secretariat in Kohima and counting of votes will be done on the same day at 5 pm. The last date of nominations is March 21, while scrutiny will take place on March 22, and last date for withdrawal of candidatures on March 24 (before 3 pm).
Secretary General of NPF, Achumbemo Kikon told journalists about the formation of the panel for the upcoming election after meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body -- Working Committee -- at its Central office in Kohima.
He said the meeting was called in view of the upcoming Rajya Sabha election to elect an MP as the incumbent KG Kenye’s tenure will end on April 2.
Kikon said that the working committee deliberated at length on the possibility of fielding a candidate to the Upper House of the Parliament. "But since the NPF is also part and parcel of the present dispensation of Nagaland -- United Democratic Alliance (UDA) -- after a long deliberation, we have decided to form a committee," he said.
The committee comprised of the party’s working presidents Apong Pongener and Thenucho Tunyi; Achumbemo Kikon; Sr vice-president Pusazo Luruo; president farmers wing Lanukaba; and presidents of Women Wing, Yanhola and Vihoshe Swu.
He informed that the committee will co-ordinate with the NPF legislature wing, examine and pursue the matter, as Rajya Sabha polls is within the domain of the elected members unlike other elections.
He maintained that a decision is expected after the sitting and "certainly we will come up with a strategy". He also expressed hope that the party would arrive at a decision during the meeting with the legislature wing on Friday evening.
However, the crucial meeting continued late into the night on Friday and the house was yet to arrive at a decision on the matter till the time of filing this report (10:36 pm to be precise).
Kikon also informed that the NPF had received proposal letters from various organisations including the civil societies and Christian forums expressing their concerned on the upcoming Rajya Sabha election and those have been examined and considered very seriously.
Responding to the allegations raised by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, K Therie, he said the NPF maintains its distinctive identity and it remains unchanged despite joining the UDA.
He added that the party ideology and principle are not diluted with any of other party and will continue to uphold what the party has stood for so many years.
The minister for Planning and Co-ordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu, told journalists that the UDA could not take a final decision on the upcoming Rajya Sabha election during its meeting on Friday.
He said this while responding to a query about its consensus candidate for the lone seat to the Upper House of the Parliament.