No paper submitted on third day of nomination-filing in

KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 2 (PTI): No candidate filed papers today, the third day of filing of nominations for the February 27 Nagaland Assembly election, officials said.  

The filing of nominations in the north-eastern state started following the issuance of the poll notification by the Election Commission (EC) on January 31.  

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, said no candidate had filed nominations for the election so far.  

The last date of filing of nominations is February 7.  

In a significant development yesterday, the BJP, after backing out of a joint declaration signed by all the parties in Nagaland to boycott the polls, announced that it would contest the election. Talks were also going on with the NPF over seat-sharing.  

Rajya Sabha member and NPF secretary general K G Kenye said the party had entrusted its president, Shurhozelie Liezietsu, and Chief Minister T R Zeliang with the task of finalising the candidates and taking a decision on seat- sharing with the BJP.  

Nagaland Congress secretary Moa Imchen told PTI that the first list of the party’s candidates was approved by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), but the party would stand firm on its commitment that unless the other parties filed nominations, it would not do so.  

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party’s (NDPP) working president Nuzota Swuro said, “We are mentally and physically prepared to contest the election, but everything depends on the filing of nominations by the other political parties.”  

JD(U) Nagaland convener Senchumo NSN Lotha said the party was preparing to contest from at least 10 seats, if the polls were held.  

The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hoho and Civil Organisation (CCNTHCO) has asked the presidents and office- bearers of all the apex tribal bodies and civil society organisations to attend a meeting here tomorrow to chart the future course of action.