NPF will boycott elections, if all parties do so: Nagaland CM TR Zeliang

January 27, 2018 195 Views No Comment

Nagaland chief minister T R Zeliang on Saturday said that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) will boycott the election process if all political parties in the state agrees to do so.

The chief minister’s statement comes amid the ongoing ‘Solution before Election’ campaign that seeks solution to several decades old political problem in the state.

Zeliang said, “I still firmly stand by my call for a Solution and not Election. As the incumbent Chief Minister of Nagaland, I am more than willing to offer my services, in the talks between the Government of India and the Naga national political groups, in whatever possible ways to bring about an honourable and amicable solution to the Naga political issue.”

The chief minister further added that the NPF has also on the January 23 2018, in the Central executive committee meeting, endorsed the resolution of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on solution to the issue before election were announced in December.

“The NPF Party is in a better position to face the polls and win, than any other parties in Nagaland. However, our priority is the Naga Solution and if that means letting go of the opportunity of forming a Democratic Government, we are forever ready to make that sacrifice,” he said.

Zeliang said that even as the political parties in the state were gearing up for the polls, the voice of the masses need to be heard.

“When the Election commission of India (ECI) announced the election for Nagaland, every political party geared up to face the upcoming polls, including the NPF Party. Nevertheless, the voice of the people needs to be heard. Yet, if other political parties files nominations, the NPF cannot be the victims of election boycott, which would be a repeat of 1998. If all political parties agree not to participate and not file nominations then the NPF party will follow suit and never betray the Nagas,” the CM said.

The chief minister further said, “Peace and progress will be evident in our state once a solution is brought about. Many of my colleagues and I have been appealing for a solution and not election and I am glad that the voice is growing in Nagaland for the same. I have been dubbed Anti-India by many leaders, for being vocal about my stand for the solution and not election. However I do not mind those as I firmly believe that Solution to the issue will open the doors for a new and better Nagaland.”

Source: The Economic Times