Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 2
A like-minded group of ex-parliamentarians in Nagaland have reportedly came together and are working to give a tough fight to the incumbent Neiphiu Rio-led government in the event that the state goes to polls without solution to the Naga political issue.
Sources, on condition of anonymity, informed that around 35 ex-parliamentarians, including ex-candidates, some sitting legislators, retired bureaucrats and young politicians, are working to be the strong contenders for the formation of the next government in the State.
Currently, many of them are reportedly attached with one or the other political parties, but the merger of 21 NPF legislators with NDPP and subsequent 40:20 seat-sharing declaration between NDPP-BJP as pre-poll alliance partners, has compelled the political aspirants to come together, the source said.
It is learnt that this group has been seriously involved in state politics prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha election and has been meeting regularly while conspicuously monitoring all political developments including the ongoing Naga Political Issue and the NDPP-BJP alliance.
The latest development among them has been their closed-door meeting held in Dimapur last week. It was reportedly decided that the group would work together to contest the forthcoming 2023 state general election by joining a political party or even forming a new political party “not to give free hands to the NDPP-BJP.”
Sources said that the group is contemplating to become a ‘formidable political force’ in the event that the Government of India fails to bring about the much awaited and anticipated political solution.
Whether through a recognized political party or by setting up a new party, the group has reportedly decided that it will set up adequate candidates in the upcoming general elections with a significant number of winnable candidates, projecting itself as a formidable contender.
The group will declare the final decision on the party they would join, other than BJP/NDPP, or establish a new political party in the State, sources added.
