DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 7 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today filed a complaint against MP to the Lok Sabha, Neiphiu Rio alleging that he had obstructed his opponent from filing nomination papers to the 11 Northern Angami II A/C on February 7.
The complaint addressed to the Principal Secretary (Political Parties), Election Commission of India alleged that Chupfu-o, a candidate from the NPF and an opponent of Rio for the upcoming polls, was obstructed at Nerhema village at 2:20pm while on his way to file nomination papers at Chiephobozou ADC HQ.
The NPF, in its complaint letter from the party’s General Secretary and Nodal Officer to the ECI, A Akho Leyri asked the ECI to take immediate necessary action concerning this matter.
The NDPP meanwhile wrote a complaint of their own to the ECI requesting action against the NPF for floating “false and defamatory allegations.” The NDPP, in its letter claimed that it was a “traffic snarl” that had stranded Chufu-o’s entourage “for a brief moment.”
It accused the NPF of “seizing the opportunity to unfoundedly allege the involvement of NDPP candidate Neiphiu Rio” through its letter to the ECI and “by viral posts and messages on social media.”
It stated that the allegations are “totally baseless, devoid of proof and/or evidence and laced with malafide intent to purposely defame the NDPP party…” This, the NDPP stated “falls under the ambit of Corrupt Practices and Electoral Offences as mentioned in Section 123 Clause (4) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. It therefore asked the ECI to take action.
Chief Electoral Office, Abhijit Sinha meanwhile said that the commission received the complaint that at around 2:20pm, the NPF candidate from 11 Northern Angami–II A/C just before nearing Cheiphobozou ADC headquarter encountered an obstruction placed on the road in the form of a JCB and he could not go forward.
The CEO informed that the Kohima DC, SP and SDPO arranged vehicles on the other side of the obstruction and the candidate was thereafter escorted to the RO office in time, where he filed his nomination.
