DIMAPUR, MARCH 27 (NNN): NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie today said that the party discouraged Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio from quitting the state politics to join the national one.
Addressing the kick-off campaign for the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) consensus candidate Neiphiu Rio today at Dimapur Stadium, Dr. Shurhozelie said NPF was not happy about Rio going to Delhi leaving the state politics. However, Rio had convinced them that the vexed Naga political issue needs to be pursued in the Parliament concertedly and he was ready to take up that task, said Dr. Shurhozelie. The NPF president appreciated the DAN partners for agreeing to have Rio as their consensus candidate.
He also expressed confidence that the DAN will win the ensuing Lok Sabha poll in Nagaland with a huge margin. Making his point, Dr Shurhozelie cited the case of CM Chang who had won with a large margin of over 4 lakh votes in the last Lok Sabha poll.
The NPF president further stated that the DAN had offered an “Olive Branch” to the Congress in the state to have all-party consensus candidate in Neiphiu Rio, but the latter party refused. "The idea was that the whole Nagaland is united to send one consensus candidate to the Parliament to pursue the Naga political issue," the NPF chief added.
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