Dimapur, March 7 (MExN): Contesting 12 seats in the Manipur state elections and winning 4 from it, is a good start and the journey “towards emotional integration” has begun, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) said in a message today. The NPF is elated at winning 4 seats and “becoming the third largest political party in the Manipur Legislative Assembly behind two national parties namely the INC and the TMC.”
“Despite contesting in only 12 seats, the NPF is today the 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.”
In fact, the NPF said, it is today the 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. “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,” said the NPF’s press secretary Abu Metha.
“The president of the NPF, Dr. Shurhozelie and the honorable Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri Neiphiu Rio congratulates all victorious candidates and the rank and file 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 organizations who have come forward and supported the party in every possible way.”
The NPF says that it 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’ used ‘all possible negative strategies’ with ‘muscle and money power to harass and check our supporters and candidates’ while the government machinery and its armed forces were used to create hurdles, the party said.
“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,” the NPF said.
The results are 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 party said.
The party expressed gratitude to all the workers, and the electorate “who have voted for our candidates in all the constituencies irrespective of the final result.”
The party assures 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 Naga people have proven that with unity and oneness, any challenge can be overcome,” the NPF added.
