Kohima: The Nagaland unit of BJP has announced Visasolie Lhoungu as the party’s candidate for the bye-election to the 11-Northern Angami-II (ST) Assembly Constituency under Kohima district to go to the bye-polls on October 15 next.
Nagaland BJP Spokesperson and General Secretary James Vozo told UNI that the BJP’s Central Election Committee met in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday night and cleared the name of Visasolie Lhoungu as the party’s candidate for the 11-Northern Angami-II assembly bye polls Nagaland.
This was the first name of candidate announced for the prestigious Northern Angami II Assembly Constituency, where the Naga Peoples Front (NPF), Nagaland Congress and some Independents are likely to name their candidatures.
Meanwhile, Kohima Deputy Commissioner W. Honje Konyak, who is also the District Election Officer, has issued a Notification for the forthcoming Assembly bye-Election in Northern Angami-II constituency yesterday as the Date of issue of Gazette Notification 20.09.2014. The schedule of the election are Date of issue of Gazette Notification 20.09.2014 (Saturday), Last date for Nominations 27.09.2014 (Saturday), Date for Scrutiny of Nominations, 29.09.2014 (Monday), Last date for withdrawal of candidatures 01.10.2014 (Wednesday) and the Date of Poll, if necessary 15.10.2014 (Wednesday).
The Date of Counting is 19.10.2014 (Sunday) and the Date before which election shall be completed. Mr. Konyak also ordered ban of arms in the public places under the Northern Angami II Assembly Constituency jurisdiction and has promulgated Section 144 Cr. P. C. till the date of completion of the bye-election.
The bye-poll was necessitated after former State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio vacated the seat to contest the parliamentary election to play a greater national role. Rio is now the Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland. With the BJP naming its candidate for the bye-poll, a tough fight is expected between the two coalition partners of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) as the major partner of DAN, the NPF is also all set to announce its candidate for the bye-poll, reportedly someone close to Rio.
The bye-election is expected to be a close contest between the two parties of the ruling DAN allies NPF and BJP, although the opposition Congress party is also expected to set up a candidate, at least to make its presence felt.
There are also reports that some Independents are also in the fray for the bye-election. Sources within NPF informed that the party was likely to field a new face, the son-in-law of Neiphiu Rio, Neiphrezo Keditsu, for the seat. Congress is finding it hard to find a suitable candidate for the bye-polls. (UNI)
