Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 11
A preliminary meeting of the DAN coalition partners was held today in the State capital Kohima where it was reported that the alliance discussed the possibility of going in for consensus candidates in both the seats in which bye-election has been announced to be held on March 8. However nothing conclusive could be arrived at in the current round of talks. A clear decision of the alliance partners is expected only after NPF party President Dr Shurhozelie returns from New Delhi. Dr Shurhozelie is reportedly recuperating after undergoing a minor operation.
The BJP, which is the key alliance partner of the NPF-led DAN government, has however gone ahead and pitched in Captain Hekiye Sema, eldest son of Late Dr Hokishe Sema as its official candidate for the prestigious Dimapur-I Assembly Constituency. For the Tuensang Sadar-II seat, the BJP has named W Wongto to be its official candidate, according to highly reliable sources. However, the final decision whether or not to field its candidate will be taken only after meeting with the coalition partners once Dr Shurhozelie returns from Delhi, BJP sources informed.
Meanwhile, during Sunday’s meeting of the coalition partners at Kohima, the BJP had reportedly taken the stand that since both the seats were vacated by the party, it had ‘requested’ the NPF party to leave the seats for the BJP. Further inside sources within the State BJP disclosed that the party would respect the ‘spirit of the DAN coalition’ and that if the NPF has ‘serious candidates’, the BJP may consider the case.
As per the last assembly election for the Dimapur-I seat, both the BJP and the NPF fielded their respective candidates with Late Dr Hokishe Sema winning comfortably and the Congress candidate coming a modest second. The NPF was placed third with its candidate forfeiting his deposit. In the Tuensang Sadar-II election, the NPF did not field its candidate and even the BJP was only able to win with a wafer thin margin. The erstwhile NDM party and the Congress came in a close second and third respectively. The merger of the NDM with the Congress since then may just about tilt the balance in favour of the Congress as far as the Tuensang seat is concerned.
From the point of view of the DAN alliance as far as the crucial Dimapur-I seat is concerned, it can hardly afford to divide its vote bank. As such, a consensus candidate may be the best option to retain the seat for the alliance.
