Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 15
In an unexpected development, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President Hokheto Sumi has tendered his resignation to the party high command in New Delhi yesterday following the decision to issue the Congress party ticket for the Dimapur-I Assembly seat to Aheto Yepthomi, informed sources said. However, no official confirmation on the final Congress candidate for the Dimapur-I seat has been received till the time of filing this news report. Attempt to reach the NPCC President was also unsuccessful.
However, reliable party sources disclosed that the NPCC President had taken the extreme step of stepping down following differences over choice of candidate for the prestigious Dimapur-I Assembly Constituency seat. Sumi was reportedly unhappy over the choice made by the party high command and also the stand taken by some of the influential State Congress leaders for opposing the choice of senior leader KL Chishi. It was disclosed that Hokheto as the NPCC President had wanted that the ticket be given to former Chief Minister KL Chishi as he stood a better chance of winning. Those supporting Chishi’s candidature were also reportedly not happy with Oscar Fernandes, Congress in-charge of the Northeast, who is said to have had a big role in making the final decision.
That serious difference exists in the Congress party leadership with regard to fielding its candidate for the bye-elections was widely reported in the local media despite refutation to this effect. The State Congress, it may be mentioned, had formally submitted the names of KL Chishi, Kevizakiesetuo and former DCC Dimapur President Aheto Yepthomi to the party high command.
