Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has strongly refuted allegations appearing in some sections of the print and electronic media over a petition filed in the Delhi High Court and described them as baseless and lacking merit.
According to NDPP media and communication committee, the court hearing scheduled for December 11, 2024, revisits a complaint originally filed in 2018. The party clarified that the petition is not new but stems from a 2018 complaint lodged with the Election Commission of India (ECI). It said that in 2019, after thorough deliberation and arguments from both sides, the ECI dismissed the case, finding no merit in the accusations.
NDPP said since its establishment in 2017, it has achieved significant electoral success. The party said it had won two state general elections and two elections for Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha seat.
Further, NDPP said it triumphed in all bye-elections since 2018 and recently won elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state. Given these successes, the party asserted that any question of de-registration or de-recognition holds no ground, as the NDPP is a fully registered and recognized political party under the ECI.
NDPP also claimed that the petitioner’s representatives failed to appear for the hearing, leading to its postponement, which the party views as an indication that the case lacks substance. NDPP has expressed confidence that the Delhi High Court will dismiss the case, just as the ECI did and that it remained assured that once facts are presented, the judiciary will rule in their favor.
The NDPP affirmed its respect for the judiciary and expressed confidence that justice will be delivered fairly and without bias.
It may be recalled that the Election Commission of India (ECI) in April 2018, had accorded recognition to NDPP as a state political party besides being allotted “globe” as party symbol.
ECI in its notification dated April 17, 2018 pointed out that after reviewing NDPP’s poll performance in the recently-held Assembly election, the party was found to have fulfilled the conditions laid down in Para 6A (i), (iii) and (v) of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968, for recognition as a State party in Nagaland and accordingly recognized under the provisions of the Elections Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
ECI further informed that the request of NDPP for allotment of “globe” as reserved symbol had been accepted and allotted it as the party’s symbol.
NDPP had explained that after its formation on May 17, 2018 and notified as a registered political party by ECI on October 13, 2017, NDPP participated in the Assembly election held on February 27 2018. The NDPP said with popular support and mandate of the people, it was given the opportunity to be part of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government.