Kohima/Dimapur June 11 : Barely five days left before the last date of filing nominations to the Rajya Sabha by-elections scheduled for June 26 next, both the ruling DAN and the opposition Congress seems to be unable to decide on their respective candidates.While there are so many contenders for the party ticket of the ruling NPF Party, there is no report of any contender from the opposition Congress so far. Party sources said that the Congress is deliberating ‘if it should contest the Rajya Sabha on its own or form an alliance with independent candidates and field a common candidate.’The Working Committee of the Nagaland People’s Front met on Tuesday afternoon to decide on the party’s official candidate for the by-election to the Rajya Sabha but could not come at a conclusion. The committee is scheduled to meet again tomorrow morning when it is likely to take a final decision. According to reports, as many as 17 candidates have applied for the NPF party ticket to the Rajya Sabha and out of which a few applicants have been short-listed for consideration. Among the prominent names doing the round include former minister of Industries and Commerce Khekiho Zhimomi, NPF Secretary General Chubatemjen, president of Naga Council Dimapur Savi Liegise, advisor to Chief Minister Z Lohe, Padmashree Chubala, former Congress MLA Rokonicha and other NPF party officials.According to political pundits, the NPF at the moment is facing a “strategy-dilemma” whether or not it should choose the candidate on ‘tribal, personality, experience or party loyalty’ lines. Though details of today’s meeting could not be obtained, NPF sources disclosed that the final candidate would have to be from Dimapur district since the state’s commercial hub does not have an NPF legislator.
(Courtesy:Morung Express)
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