In talks with NPF to tacitly support one another: Therie

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 12

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said that it is willing to support the NPF as the latter has distanced from the BJP. NPCC president, K. Therie made the disclosure on February 12 at a press conference in Dimapur after an “official” release programme of the NPCC’s election manifesto for the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) elections 2018.  

Therie said that the congress has been in talks with the NPF chief Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu to secure an understanding “to tacitly support” one another.  

“There is a verbal understanding to support one another’s candidates. We have decided to support them in constituencies where there are no Congress candidates,” he said, while adding that it expects the NPF to support its candidates in constituencies where the NPF has no contenders.  

As per the latest list of poll contenders in the 60 Assembly Constituencies, 4 Ghaspani I is the only constituency without an NPF candidate. Out of the Congress’ 20 official candidates, one falls in 4 Ghaspani I. On February 12, the number of Congress candidates reduced to 18 after two withdrew.  

The NPCC election manifesto was though not bereft of NPF bashing.   Therie predicted a ‘hung Assembly’ stating that no political party will have absolute majority. On that note, he said that the Congress will work for the formation of a ‘secular front’.  

Asked how many of the former Congress legislators, who deserted the party, have responded to the NPCC call to return, Therie responded in the negative while commenting, “They have no ideology.”  

According to Therie, the “major commitments” of the NPCC manifesto includes solving the Naga political problem “through a new formula,” while drawing up productive projects in the development front. All weather roads, reigniting long proposed hydro power projects, considering thermal and solar stations, increasing ‘technical seat’ allotment to 3000 from the present 300, smart classrooms, cold storage for organic farm produce in Delhi and Dubai, cashless health service, 100 percent MGNREGA wages, legislating a law to facilitate the nomination of minorities in the Assembly were the other major pledges highlighted.