February 12, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 66

MONDAY, February 12, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Start working, you don’t have much time, Rahul tells Modi

SA beat India to keep series alive

President intervenes to re-open paper mills

national, Page 5

sports, Page 12

northeast, Page 4

NDPP-BJP alliance takes on NPF for Feb 27 polls

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): After scrutiny on February 7, nominations of 30 candidates have been rejected thereby leaving 227 in the fray but how many will eventually contest the February 27 election will be known after February 12 the last day for withdrawal of nominations. The February 27, 2018 polls comes against the backdrop of confusion among the public since various apex tribe organizations, NGOs, civil society groups including NSCN (I-M) and Working Committee of NNPGs had

This is it!

“We have raised varieties of anti-terror commandos like red beret, green beret and no beret.”

K Y M C

strongly rooted for deferment of polls till final solution was achieved to the long pending Naga political problem. After Monday (February 12) those remaining will vie for the 60-member 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. After Monday, the remaining candidates will have less than two weeks to campaign since all activities will cease 48 hours before polling. There are 10 political parties including Independents vying for power while a majority of those setting up less than 20 candidates hope to become ‘king makers’ in the event of a hung house

or fractured mandate. The ruling NPF will contest the highest number of seats--59. Though NPF has decided to fight alone, there is possibility of forming a post-poll alliance with any likeminded party or parties. The newly formed Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) will contest the second highest number of seats in 40 constituencies. The highest number of candidates where NDPP had set up is in Mokokchung district. Since the NPF offered less than 10 seats the BJP decided to accept the 20 seats offered by the NDPP for a pre-poll alliance.

As per the form and shape of electoral realignments for the ensuing assembly election, the ruling NPF and the newly formed NDPP and its alliance partner BJP are going to be the two main contenders for power. Leading the NPF charge is chief minister, T.R. Zeliang who has proved to be a survivor of many crises but in the present scenario three time chief minister and Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio is all set to give the NPF (which he founded in 2002) a run for its money. The ‘collective’ NPF leadership of T.R. Zeliang and party president Dr.

Shürhozelie does not appear to be all hunky dory despite the façade of reconciliation in December last year after the relationship between both hit rock bottom. Any party which wind around 15 or more seats can make a serious bid to power. As of today both the NPF and NDPP appear to be headed for a showdown on February 27 and a hung house will only lead to further barter and exchange in which smaller parties hope to do business. Interestingly in the coming election there seem to be hardly any presence of independents.

Congress to back secular party candidates DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has decided to extend support to candidates of “secular parties” in constituencies where it has not set up candidates. This was decided at an executive committee meeting held on Saturday, NPCC media cell stated in a press release. Directing all its rank and file to carry out the decision in letter and spirit, NPCC said it took the decision to salvage the people of Nagaland from “sinking in the Hindutva quicksand”. Asserting that the decision was aimed at stopping BJP and

its alliance partners from compromising the rights of “our people and our way of life”, NPCC said that towards this objective, it welcomed any secular-minded party and leader interested in forming a broad consensus to provide secular and stable government and stop the tide of Hindutva forces in Nagaland. Claiming that for over twoand-a-half years NPCC had been educating the people on the danger of Hindutva, the party mentioned that it was shocked to see the rush of candidates to BJP. The party said that it was also shocked at Nationalist Demo-

cratic Progressive Party (NDPP) deciding to share seats with BJP by ignoring the fears of the people, NPCC added. NPCC said the alliance partner was fully aware of how minorities were being persecuted and suffering under BJP rule. Supporting Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) statement that the choice was between the “Trishul” and “Cross”, Congress said the cry of NBCC should not go in vain. As on February 11, the Congress will be contesting in 19 seats for the 60-member Nagaland Assembly.

3400 VVPAT machines for Nagaland polls

KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (IANS/ NPN): A total of 3,400 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines and 77 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have arrived in poll-bound Nagaland, an election official said on Sunday. The elections for the 60member Nagaland Assembly is slated to be held on February 27, and the votes will be counted on March 3. Chief Electoral Officer, Abhijit Sinha said the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines will be deployed in all 2,196 polling booths across the state. As for security arrangements for the February 27 elections, Sinha said a total of 281 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed in the state to ensure the smooth conduct of polls. Sinha said 77 companies have already arrived in the state and have been deployed to all districts. The companies

which have arrived are being utilized for area domination, Mobile Vehicle Check Posts, environmental security, Sinha added. The remaining 204 companies will be arriving in Nagaland after completion of the Tripura assembly elections slated for February 18, Sinha said. The companies which have arrived are from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Railway Protection Force (RPF). The CEO further informed that sections of the CAPF have also been deployed at Static police check posts to check inflow of cash, arms, liquor and other illegal items. It may be mentioned that the last date of withdrawal of candidature is February 12.

BJP denounces fake report TTWU backs ‘clean election’ DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Nagaland State BJP unit has vehemently denounced a fictitious report about BJP national leader and in-charge North East, Ram Madhav. According to a press release by BJP media cell, the report was purportedly written by an online news portal with malicious intent devoid of any truth. The fake report started circulating on social media. Calling the spread of such news tantamount to character assassination, state BJP said it also posed the grave risk of sparking communal tension. The state party unit asserted that they will initiate prompt action against those spreading the news, adding, those responsible for the mischief will be penalized and punished under appropriate sections of the law and IT Act.

DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Extending full support to the ‘clean election campaign’ initiative, the Tuli Town Ward Union (TTWU), Tuli Town held a meeting on February 5 and adopted a four point resolution in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections. In a press note, TTWU chairman, Temsuinba and secretary Talimangyang stated that the union resolved to render their full cooperation to the call for ‘clean election’.

The union warned that anyone invoking/creating any anti-social environment or engaging in illegal activities will be strictly dealt with by the union. The union further cautioned that apart from citizens of Tuli Town (comprising of all the nine wards), no other individual/official groups would be allowed to engage in any election related activities. Non-compliance with the resolutions by any individual/group(s) will invite severe action, the union warned.

K Y M C


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
February 12, 2018 by Nagaland Post - Issuu