KOHIMA: Making its debut into Manipur politics by fielding candidates for the January 28 Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) of Nagaland, has formally distributed party tickets to 12 candidates on Saturday.
According to NPF Central Office at Kohima, NPF president Shurhozelie Lezietsu who is also Nagaland Minister for Urban Development and Higher Education administered the party’s pledge to 12 candidates and later handed over the tickets to them at a function held at Phymai Taphaou village under Senapati district of Manipur on Saturday in presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, NPF Working president Huska Yepthomi and several other top party workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Lezietsu said the NPF which expanded to Manipur intends to strengthen the democratic system. If all 20 seats of the hill areas come together with one voice, he said, their voice would be heard in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the same voice will bring about balanced development.
The Meitei (Manipuries), Naga and Kuki are ‘good neighbours since time immemorial and will continue to live together till the end of the world,’ he claimed. Governments and politicians will come and go but the relation will continue so long as the world exists, he said.
Mr Rio in his address said, ”Let us renew our fight for cause of Nagas,” and asked the people to make sure that sufficient Naga MLAs are elected to speak for the right of the Nagas.
He asserted that the NPF will see that the minorities and hill areas people are protected; the party will bring new policies for the uplift of the common people. (UNI)