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Lok Sabah election 2019: Six opposition NPF MLAs back ruling NDPP candidate in Nagaland
The six NPF MLAs said the party’s decision to support the Congress candidate was against the principle of regionalism.
The opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Tuesday issued show cause notices to six of its legislators in Nagaland after they decided to support the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-led government in the state and its sitting MP for the Lok Sabha elections.
On Monday, six of the total 26 NPF MLAs in the 60-member house met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and sitting Lok Sabha MP from the state Tokheho Yepthomi.
Following the meeting they issue a statement appreciating the “development and progressive initiatives” that have been undertaken by the NDPP-led government of which BJP is also a partner. The statement mentions seven names but carries the signatures of six of them.
In the 2018 assembly polls, NPF had emerged as the single largest party with 26 seats, but the NDPP which won 18 seats and BJP which won 12 came together to form the Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) government with support of smaller parties.
Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2019: BJP ally NDPP holds lone Nagaland constituency
In the upcoming Lok Sabha election for the state’s lone parliamentary seat, NDPP has fielded sitting MP Yepthomi as its candidate. He has the support of BJP.
The NPF on the other hand has decided not to field any candidate and support the Congress candidate instead.
“In the absence of an NPF candidate in the Lok Sabha elections and the decision to support the Congress is against the principle of regionalism and this development has necessitated our decision to extend support to the PDA consensus candidate and the PDA government,” the six rebel MLAs said in the statement.
It is speculated that the six NPF legislators would soon resign from the assembly which would necessitate and bye-elections.
On Tuesday, NPF issued show cause notices to the six MLAs asking them why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for “open revolt” and “hobnobbing with political opponent of NPF”.
