NPF selects party candidate for RS seat

Working committee (WC) of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has selected K.G. Kenye as party candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, which fell vacant following the demise of late Khekiho Zhimomi M.P. According a joint statement issued by NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie and recording secretary Vikheho Swu, the selection was made at a meeting held on March 2, 2016 at NPF central office HQs, Kohima party.
Before the proceedings begun, Dr Shürhozelie gave the invocation prayer. Dr. Shürhozelie, at the outset read out names of 11 intending candidates. The list also included names of non-NPF candidate(s) distributed to all the members in file. Thereafter, Dr. Shürhozelie invited all members to share their views “with sincerity” and also to maintain the sanctity of the WC through confidentiality.
In his remark, the chief minister T. R. Zeliang highlighted certain criteria that members needed to take into account while selection of the NPF candidate. He listed the criteria as – candidate should be one who would always remain loyal to the party; that criteria should not be along tribal lines but on the capability and candidate should be one who can best perform, keeping also in mind the crucial stage of “Indo-Naga” issue. After the reading out the 12 WC members and four special invitees then gave their opinion and selected K.G. Kenye, secretary general NPF.
It stated that the result ended with overwhelming support for K. G. Kenye for the Rajya Sabha candidate (13 votes in favour of K.G. Kenye).
Following this, the party president announced the consensus decision taken by the party. After working committee meeting, the DAN co-ordination meeting was held where the chairman DAN co-ordination committee Dr.Shürhozelie conveyed the decision of the working committee to the BJP members for endorsement. The statement said the BJP members “in principal” welcomed the decision of the working committee.
Kohima Correspondent adds: Among the intending candidates included: Huska Yepthomi (working president NPF), retired commissioner T.N Mannen (who contested in 2008 and 2013 assembly elections), working president NPF Apong Pongener, former Lok Sabha MP (and ex-Congress), Asungba Sangtam, former minister Dr. Chumben Murry, T.L Angami, NPF secretary general and Advisor to Chief Minster, K G Kenye, former minister Neiwang Konyak, Hukato Naga, Geoffrey Yaden among others. It was learnt that K.G. Kenye’s selection was a foregone conclusion as the decision had been arrived at much earlier. It was also learnt that there is an uneasy disquiet and resentment within the NPF over the selection that could resonate in the coming days ahead.
Meanwhile, it was also learnt that four names were doing the rounds seeking to contest as BJP candidates— Dr. M. Chuba (former state unit president), H.K. Khulu IAS (Retd), Hurui Zeliang and former minister T.A. Ngullie.