Dimapur, Jan. 16: Despite the open diktats from NPF and BJP – the two major political parties expected to headline the next political gig in Nagaland – to their respective candidates not to withdraw their candidature to the controversial urban local bodies’ elections, at least 15 more intending candidates withdrew their nomination papers on Monday.
According to a report filed by the state government’s department of Information and Public Relations, 15 candidates ‘for the Nagaland Municipal Elections withdrew their candidatures’, putting the total candidates to withdraw at 68 as of Monday.
The report stated that Meluri and Chumukedima registered the highest withdrawals on Monday with 4 candidates each. It was followed by Dimapur with three withdrawals and one each from Chozuba, Tening, Zunheboto and East Dimapur, the report informed.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 17. The final list of contesting candidates as well as the list of polling stations will also be brought out on the same day.
List of candidates to withdraw nominations since January 12
| Municipal /Town Council | NPF | INC | BJP | Independent | Total |
| Phek Town Council | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | 6 |
| Pfutsero Town Council | 9 | 7 | - | 11 | 27 |
| Chozuba Town Council | - | - | - | 11 | 11 |
| Meluri Town Council | - | - | - | 6 | 6 |
| Kiphire Town Council | - | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Tobu Town Council | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Dimapur Municipal Council | 1 | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| Chumukedima Town Council | 5 | - | - | 3 | 8 |
| East Dimapur Town Council |
Even as the official update from the state government’s information department did not mention anything about Wokha, the Lotha Hoho on Monday issued a press statement informing that two of the intending candidates to Wokha Town Councill withdrew their candidatures on Monday.
The Lotha Hoho statement identified the two candidates who withdrew nominations on Monday as BJP candidate, Khamongo Humtsoe and Independent candidate, Echungbeni. The Lotha Hoho on Monday held a meeting with NPF Wokha division party leaders ‘as a follow up of and in compliance of the Lotha public resolution of January 8 last, for withdrawal of nomination to ULB (Wokha and Bhandari Town Councils) elections 2017’.
“The NPF party leaders apologised for inability to attend meeting of January 14 last, and the party Wokha division president, Mr. Mhonthung Patton and press secretary, Mr. Manthungo Kikon, have signed an undertaking to respect the decisions of the Lotha Hoho,” it informed.
The Lotha Hoho reminded that the BJP candidates have already assured to withdraw their candidatures if their NPF counterparts do so. “The Lotha Hoho apprised the party leaders that the Hoho have resolved to oppose the Civic elections, to be held on the 1st February 2017.
“The Lotha Hoho, while expressing deep appreciation to the candidates, who have withdrawn their nomination, urge all candidates to withdraw, failing which the resolution of 8th January 2017 will be enforced, and the Hoho and the frontal organisations will not be responsible, for any eventuality. The Hoho has also framed an undertaking to bear responsibility for candidates withdrawing nomination,” it stated.
In an interesting development, eleven BJP candidates to the Dimapur Municipal Council elections have decided to play it behind the backs of the NPF candidates – in what appears to be a shrewd political move.
The candidates issued a press release on Sunday stating that their final decision rests solely on the NPF candidates withdrawing their respective candidatures. “Regarding the current imbroglio of urban local bodies election in the state, we the 11 intending BJP candidates for DMC had a threadbare discussion on January 16 about the issue taking into consideration the views of the state government and the tribal bodies/organisations as well,” it stated.
“Now having discussed these points at length, we the 11 BJP candidates being bonafide members and affiliated to our own respective tribal apex bodies, have decided to respect and consider the decision of our apex bodies.
“However, the final decision to withdraw our nominations solely depends on the NPF candidates withdrawing their nominations in the first place. This decision has been taken firmly since we cannot afford to be on the losing side if we withdraw our nominations first and the NPF candidates do not follow suit. Electing unopposed even when there are willing candidates to fight elections would amount to treacherous politics of the lowest level.” Meanwhile, BJP candidate Hokivi Chishi has thanked the deputy commissioner, Dimapur, for his wisdom in clearing the nomination papers of Avi Awomi from Ward 6.
In a separate statement, the BJP unit of 58 A/C Shamator-Chessore has announced its endorsement of the January 14 ENPO resolution and ‘thereby extend its solidarity in the larger interest of the Nagas in general’.
“However, it has adopted a firm resolution that all the candidates who filed the nomination papers with BJP ticket under 58 A/C Shamator-Chessore shall withdraw the nomination papers only after the nomination papers are being completely withdrawn by the candidates affiliated to other political parties,” a press release read.
The NPF unit of Zunheboto on Monday issued a statement claiming that the independent candidate Zhehoto at Alahuto ward 5 under Zunheboto Town Council has withdrawn his candidature to support the NPF candidate Kikheto.
“The NPF Zunheboto division appreciate and thank all the candidates who have sacrificed their position to strengthen the NPF party. 7 NPF candidates are now unopposed, out of 13 wards,” it claimed.
