Mokokchung, May 10 (EMN): Referring to the whispers in the political circles that Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Neiphiu Rio might float a new political party, the working president of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Advisor to Chief Minister Huska Yepthomi on Wednesday asserted that the ‘formation of a new political party in Nagaland will not have much impact on the prospects of the NPF.’
The NPF official was replying to a query raised by media persons during the sidelines of a NPF meeting of the 22nd Arkakong assembly constituency at Chuchuyimlang village in Mokokchung.
“There is talk in the market that Neiphiu Rio is contemplating to float a new political party. If he floats the party, willing people will go but it does not matter: floating of the new party will not affect us,” Yepthomi asserted.
Replying to a query, Huska Yepthomi said that there was ‘no difference in the party and there is no chance of splitting of NPF party in the coming election.’ ‘Some individuals may go but there is no chance of splitting the party in the coming election,” the veteran NPF politician stated. He said that Chief Minister Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu will be leading the party in the polls. Besides, he said that the party had no candidatures to be the next leader in Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
“The next leader will be elected only after the election. The elected member will choose their leader,” he remarked.
The team of the NPF central led by Huska Yepthomi is currently touring the ten assembly constituencies in Mokokchung. The tour which began on May 9 will conclude on May 11 after visiting the last two constituencies in Mongkolemba town.
Speaking at the meeting with NPF workers of the 22nd Arkakong assembly constituency, Yepthomi slammed Neiphiu Rio that he tried several times to topple the TR Zeliang government. He argued that when Rio tried to return to Nagaland politics he ‘depended only on his money, not on his people.’ He claimed also that if it was not for the NPF, Rio couldn’t have got the opportunity to become the chief minister. He lauded Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu as a ‘gentleman and God fearing person.’
On the recent Urban Local Body election issue, he claimed that ‘all tribal hohos were misled.’ He maintained that the ‘state government initiation’ was to hold consultations with all the tribal hohos; 14 consultative meetings were held with the tribal hohos, the Naga Hoho and the ENPO for ‘suggestions to hold ULBs elections in the state.’ “Without consultation, the government does not take the decision,” he said.
In this connection, Huska Yepthomi asserted that when the Indian government was ‘graceful enough to give more than Article 371 (A) why the tribal Hohos are so keen to protect the foresaid articles.’ He informed that the Supreme Court will be giving its verdict on the 33 percent women reservation ‘very soon.’
On allies, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will remain in alliance with the NPF in the next assembly elections in Nagaland.
