Four days after 11 political parties signed a joint declaration to boycott the polls, the ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF), the Congress and the BJP on Friday did a volte face and said that they are going to contest the polls for the sake of ‘early solution to the Naga political issue’.
While the ruling Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) on Friday said that they are going to contest the polls as holding of timely elections was a constitutional requisite, the Congress and the BJP also made it clear that they are also going to contest the polls.
“The party will contest the polls as the Central Government has repeatedly pointing out that holding timely election was a constitutional requisite and that the Centre was bound by constitutional provisions,” said a statement issued by the NPF today.
“As all Naga NGOs and political parties could not arrive at a consensus on deferment of elections, NPF as a recognised political party cannot be an exception to participating in the upcoming general elections,” the NPF statement said.
Echoing the similar sentiments, the BJP too clarified that the party has decided to contest the February 27 polls for the cause of ‘Solution to the Naga political issue’. “The BJP is for early solution to the present Naga Political issue and BJP will be part of the system to implement all the agreements held between the Government of India and the negotiating parties,” said a statement issued by the BJP.
The Congress also said that the party will soon be releasing the Election Manifesto of 2018, indicating that they are participating in the polls. “ As all the political parties including the NPF and BJP are gearing up to take part in elections, Congress party will soon be releasing the Election Manifesto of 2018 wherein the future is assured for all,” a statement issued by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee said today.
The development came four days after eleven parties including the NPF, BJP and the Congress signed a joint declaration to boycott the polls demanding an early settlement to the Naga political issue. The other parties who were part of the agreement includes United Naga Democratic Party (UNDP), Nagaland Congress, AAP, National Democratic Political Party (NDPP), NCP, LJP, JD(U), National People's Party (NPP).