Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 30
The NPF, which is currently part of the Neiphiu Rio-led United Democratic Alliance, is for “solution, not election,” as per Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu.
Nienu, who became the NPF Legislature Party Leader after the defection of 21 MLAs led by TR Zeliang, maintained that the NPF’s stand is very clear, stating, “We stand by our commitment for an early solution and not election.” He made the comment on the side line of a programme today in Dimapur.
The stand of the party notwithstanding, he said that the party will still support an all-party government if “in case election is imposed and held.” He explained the paradoxical stand like this, “See, there is a pressing need for solution and settlement and this will continue to grow stronger and stronger… and so there will be a need to have an all party government again. And in case, the NPF gets absolute majority, still then I will go for an all-party government."
On the NDPP-BJP pre-poll deal, he said that the two parties forging electoral alliance in the midst of calls for solution displays “their interest is more on the election side.”
He was further asked whether the NPF's call for “solution” arose from the party’s weakened strength following the defection of 21 MLAs. He responded, “Don’t want to comment on the defection of our 21 friends. They have left the party for their own reasons. But the NPF is still the strongest at the grassroots.” In his list of grassroots favourites, he placed the NDPP in second and BJP in third with the NPF on top. He added, “At the grassroots, the voters have never left us.”
Nevertheless, he said that the party may or may not contest in all the seats, stating, that it will be decided “according to our strength.”
Prodded further, he disclosed that the NPF is open to the option of allying with any party. According to him, two-three parties have already approached the NPF for an alliance but the Congress was not among them.
