Kohima: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said that it would soon announce the name of its candidate for the for the lone seat of Nagaland for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a joint press release from Convener of NPCC’s Search Committee and its former President, K. V. Pusa and Member Secretary Joshua Sumi today said that for this purpose, names have already been short listed.
They said several capable persons are willing to serve the people but the party has decided to field a suitable person who could work in the interest of Naga people.
Welfare of the people topped the Congress agenda, he said.
Reacting to Naga Peoples Front’s (NPF) statement seeking Congress support during Lok Sabha election, the opposition Congress said it would soon announce the name of the party’s candidate who could work in the interest and aspiration of Naga people.
‘Totally rejecting’ support to an NPF candidate, they said four MPs were sent to the Parliament to speak for the welfare of the people, but they had ‘betrayed the masses and had come back to the state politics and now Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio wanted to contest leaving the highest post which would be a total betrayal of the people.’
Rebutting reports of BJP’s assurance to Rio for an early settlement of the protracted Naga political problem, Pusa, also Convener of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the NPCC, said even during the time of then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vijpayee, there were several rounds of talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thiungaleng Muivah, but no solution could be hammered out.
He said the BJP’s assurance was only an ’empty rhetoric to woo the innocent voters.’
Towards this effort, observed Pusa, the PAC had already asked the Centre to expedite the peace process with renewed effort.
Pusa also stated that during the UPA tenure there has been considerable progress in the peace process. (UNI)
