NPF not to contest Arunachal elections

Newmai News
KOHIMA, Sept 24 – The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has pulled out itself from the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly poll fray.

The plans of Naga People’s Front (NPF) to expand its base to other parts of the North East region seems to have been shattered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) not granting it approval to contest the ensuing Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for October 13, 2009.

Talking to Newmai News Network today, NPF secretary general, KG Kenye said that after a threadbare meeting held yesterday at its central office in Kohima the NPF decided to withdraw from contesting the October 13 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

He said that the decision was necessitated following the delay of the ECI in approving the change in nomenclature of the party from Nagaland People’s Front to Naga People’s Front to contest Assembly elections in other parts of North East.

Kenye, squarely blaming the ECI on the issue, said the party had to withdraw because of the ‘ill-conceived motive’ of the ECI and paucity of time in filing nominations. He also clarified that the withdrawal was not because the party was demoralized or facing any threat.

He revealed that the party had formally applied for the change of nomenclature with the ECI during the first week of August this year but till date it has not given approval.

Terming the delay as ‘unnecessary and highly deplorable action’ of the ECI, he said the ECI does not have jurisdiction over the internal matter of the party as the NPF had put up the application for the change observing all formalities but they have taken advantage of it and caused this obstacles.

He also argued saying that only regional party of the State has been changing its nomenclature even in the past but such obstacles have never been caused. The party has changed from United Forum of Nagaland (UFN) to United Democratic Front (UDF), then to Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP), Nagaland People Council (NPC), Nagaland People’s Front (NPF). Now, it is trying to change it to Naga People’s Front.

Meanwhile, political observers are of the view that there have been lapses on the part of NPF while amending its constitution because of which the ECI might have not granted approval to contest the elections by changing the nomenclature.

It is pertinent to note that the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), the apex students' body of Arunachal Pradesh has been opposing the joining of Naga Peoples Party in Arunachal Pradesh politics.

Soruce;http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=sep2509/ne3