• ‘Missing’ NPP candidate resurface endorsing PDA
• NPF's candidate to jump on the PDA bandwagon
• Now, a straight fight between INC and NDPP
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 28
The Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) and the National People’s Party (NPP) were left red faced and stunned after the PDA government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday dramatically wooed away their candidates in the fray for the 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency bye-election into its fold.
In a flurry of fast paced political outmaneuvering, the number of candidates for the 26 Aonglenden bye-election which stood at four till Wednesday evening was reduced to two after both the NPP and NPF candidates withdrew from the race.
This sudden development emerged after the duo-O Tinujungshi Longkumer from the NPP and Toshipokba Longkumer from the NPF issued separate press statements widely circulated on social media announcing their withdrawal and declaring support to the PDA government and its consensus candidate from the NDPP- Sharingain Longkumer.
Official documents on notice of withdrawal of candidates which The Morung Express obtained also indicate that the SDO(C) Mokokchung and Returning Officer for 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency bye-election, Abhinav Shivan accepted the two candidates' withdrawal of their candidature today.
When queried if the two candidates showed up in person to withdraw their candidature, the Returning Officer said their respective proposers with letters of authorization from the candidates turned up for the formalities.
Ex-NPP candidate O Tinujungshi Longkumer, who was ‘reported missing’ since March 26 prompting the NPP party bureau in Mokokchung to file an FIR, fearing that he was abducted, later emerged ‘all smiling’ in a photograph with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Minister Metsubo Jamir which was attached with a press statement announcing his withdrawal and declaring support to PDA government.
The Mokokchung SP who formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) right after receiving the complaint, following a prompt investigation on Wednesday evening had declared the ‘missing candidate’ “safe and healthy” and that he “was not abducted.”
Tinujungshi is the brother of Late Imtikumzuk Longkumer from the NDPP whose untimely demise required the bye-election. He had first expressed desire to contest through NDPP ticket, which however was given to Sharingain Longkumer. This was when the NPP stepped in to field him as their candidate.
NPP Nagaland unit president Ato Yepthomi when contacted confirmed the development. Censuring the move, Yepthomi said candidates should not behave like “purchasable commodities.”
A similar press statement from ex-NPF candidate Toshipokba Longkumer along with a cheerful photo taken with Rio and Metsubo also emerged in the social media platform declaring his withdrawal and extending support to “work wholeheartedly towards the success of the PDA candidate to both the Lok Sabha election and the bye-election.”
The NPF meanwhile refused to take it lying down, termed the actions of its candidate as unfortunate, and amounting to “total betrayal of the party.”
“His action warrants expulsion from the party. The Disciplinary Action Committee of the NPF will meet on Friday where decision would be taken on what action should be initiated against Toshipokba,” NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon told The Morung Express.
The NPF spokesperson also claimed that the action of the PDA government in wooing away its candidate shows how “totally insecure the party is” and is threatened by the NPF party.
With two candidates officially withdrawing their candidature, the race to the Aonglenden A/C is now a straightway contest between INC’s Alemjongshi Longkumer and NDPP’s Sharingain Longkumer. The bye-election is slated to be held on April 11, the same date as with the Lok Sabha election.
With the NPF candidate to the 26 Aonglenden out of the picture, the Congress may have found an ally in the NPF for the bye-election too just as it has for the Lok Sabha. While Aonglenden A/C has been considered as a NPF stronghold, with the party now out of the way, it is predicted that the NDPP will have a more open playing field.
Meanwhile, PDA consensus candidate Sharingain Longkumer in a press release “expressed happiness to learn that my elder brothers Toshipokba Longkumer and O. Tinu Longkumer have decided to lend their support and join the NDPP and the PDA alliance government by withdrawing their respective candidatures.”
