The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has agreed to part with four urban seats for the coming Nagaland Assembly elections to its ally BJP as part of the seat-sharing deal during a meeting in New Delhi, sources said here on Saturday.
NDPP and the BJP had contested the 2018 elections with a 40:20 seat-sharing formula and the alliance partners have decided to continue with it, though a number of leaders from both parties demanded a change in that.
NDPP sources said that the BJP sought four urban seats- Kohima Town, Mon Town, Tuensang Sadar-II and Wokha- in its share of 20, which chief minister Neiphiu Rio accepted making the deal final. State BJP leaders confirmed the development.
In the 2018 polls, NDPP candidate Dr Neikiesalie (Nicky) Kire won from Kohima Town.
However, the alliance lost the other three seats to NPF contestants. According to PTI report, party insiders said that Kire is unwilling to leave the seat while talks are on to convince him.
Details of other constituencies shared between the two could not be known immediately.
NPN Adds: Meanwhile, BJP State Election Committee held a closed-door meeting on Saturday for the ensuing assembly election.
Taking to Twitter (@BJP4Nagaland), the party said that the meeting was chaired by State president Temjen Imna Along and attended by deputy chief minister Y. Patton, national BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli, BJP legislators– S. Pangnyu Phom, Jacob Zhimomi and Mmhonlumo Kikon, Rajya Sabha MP S. Phangnon Konyak, BJP secretary (Org) for Nagaland Abhay Giri, and party functionaries Eduzu Theluo and Khevishe Achumi
BJP sources said that though the 40 (NDPP): 20(BJP) agreement was final, the BJP central election committee will take the final call on the constituencies the party would be fielding its candidates. Once this is final, the tickets will be issued accordingly within this week, sources said.
It may be recalled that both NDPP and BJP, amidst discontentment over ticket distribution, had categorically reaffirmed that there was no question of reviewing the 40(NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing deal.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, while talking to media persons on the sidelines of 74th Republic Day celebration at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima on Thursday made it unambiguously clear that there was no question of any change in the agreement since it based on consensus reached between the two parties. Rio said “seat sharing has already been decided and there is nothing more to change. We stand by that decision. Everybody was there when the decision was taken and therefore we will stand by it.”
The same was also reiterated by PHE minister Jacob Zhimomi that there will be no question of reviewing seat sharing between the NDPP and BJP, as decided by leaders of both the two parties.
BJP intending candidates to hold dharna
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JAN 28 (NPN): Despite the Central BJP and NDPP leaders’ firm decision to stick to the 40(NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing agreement, a forum of BJP intending candidates have decided to stage another dharna on January 30 in Dimapur to express their resentment against the seat sharing pact.
According to the forum leaders, the decision was made after a closed-door meeting of the intending candidates held here on Saturday.
The proposed dharna is expected to be held at Naga Shopping Arcade area.
The forum leaders said that the intention to hold the dharna was to express resentment against seat sharing and to convey the message to the party high command to reconsider its decision and increase the seat sharing, before crucial meeting of the BJP to be held on January 30.
