Dimapur, Mar 7: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) feels contented with the four seats it bagged in the Manipur assembly elections. This mood of the party was revealed from Kohima this evening when everyone thought the Naga People’s Front (NPF) to be in disappointment.
The NPF had contested in the Naga dominated 12 assembly constituencies in the 10th Manipur legislative assembly election of which the results were declared on Tuesday.
“All ranks and files of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) expresses its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the electorates who came forward in supporting the candidates of the NPF in the just concluded elections to the Manipur Legislative Assembly. NPF won 4 seats becoming the fourth largest political party in the Manipur Legislative Assembly behind three parties namely INC, TMC and MSCP. In fact, the NPF is today the second largest regional political party in the Manipur Assembly. This is indeed a significant achievement, especially for a party that had entered the fray for the first time,” Abu Metha, the press secretary of the NPF central office, Kohima informed Newmai News Network this evening. It was also the first time ever that a regional political party of Nagaland had ever contested elections outside Nagaland State in the history of this nation, the NPF further added. Four candidates, namely Dikho, Alexander Pou, Nunghlung Victor and Samuel Risom returned successful by winning in their assembly segments of Mao, Karong, Chandel and Ukhrul respectively. “An incumbent education minister in the Congress government was defeated by more than 7000 votes in Karong and in some other constituencies NPF candidates lost by narrow margins.
The president of the NPF, Dr. Shurhozelie and Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio congratulate all victorious candidates and the ranks and files of the party in Nagaland and Manipur who have worked tirelessly for the party before and during the Manipur elections while appreciating all sections of the people and various organisations who have come forward and supported the party in every possible way,” the party stated.
It then said the victory of the NPF is a victory of the Naga people and a victory for the resilience of the Nagas. “As we have been mentioning during our election campaign, the NPF entered and participated in the Manipur elections against all odds and challenges created by the adversaries of the Naga people and of the party. Due to the hurdles created, the NPF could establish its offices and party units in Manipur very late and by the time the NPF was prepared to finally announce its candidates, the election process in Manipur was well underway and other candidates and parties had the advantage of an early start,” the Naga party further said. It then stated that the NPF entered the Manipur polls with the intention of providing a platform and a common voice to the suffering Naga brothers and sisters who have been suppressed for decades. “The adversaries of the Nagas used all possible negative
strategies against us with muscle and money power to harass and check our supporters and candidates. The might of the government machinery and its armed forces were used to
create all sort of roadblocks for the party, however the NPF was willing to walk the extra mile for the cause of all Naga brothers and sisters. Moreover, manipulations by our adversaries
continued to create problems for us as repolling was announced only in constituencies in which our candidates were in the fray. Despite these challenges and many more unseen
problems created against us, Nagas everywhere can have pride and hold their head high with the satisfaction that we have emerged as the largest regional party in the Manipur
Assembly. For a first time, it is indeed a morale boosting achievement and the result indicates the undoubted possibility of bringing our people under one common voice with the
agenda of emotionally integrating the pan-Naga population,” the NPF asserted.
“All ranks and files of the NPF are indeed encouraged by the results and we extend our deepest appreciation to our brothers and sisters who have voted for our candidates in all the
constituencies irrespective of the final result. We assure the Naga people that the NPF is there for the Nagas for the long run and we will continue to shout at the top of our voice for the
cause of Nagas in a democratic manner,” the central office of the NPF said. The Naga people have proven that with unity and oneness, any challenge can be overcome, it added. Despite
contesting in only 12 seats, the NPF is today the second largest regional political party in Manipur. “The journey towards emotional integration, oneness of all Nagas and the forward
march of our people in all Naga areas under one banner and platform has just begun,” it stated.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/npf-happy-with-result/
