Imphal, January 16: In all 60 intending Naga candidates for the ensuing 9th Assembly elections, slated for February month in three phases, today attended a United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored meeting convened in connection with the said polls.

The UNC has been launching motivation campaigns in Naga areas of the State to project those candidates who are committed to the cause of the Naga people.

UNC is all set to field 13 such candidates.

Responding to the UNC call the 60 candidate aspirants including the five MLAs who recently resigned from their respective political parties along with their family members and chief election agents attended the meeting held at Taphou community hall in Senapati district.

In consonance with the UNC's position paper concerning the 9th Assembly elections, the 60 aspiring candidates pledged during the meeting to safeguard the interest of the Naga people, informed UNC president Paul Leo while speaking to The Sangai Express.

Paul stated that 13 independent candidates would be fielded in the ensuing polls for the three Assembly segments in Ukhrul district, two in Chandel, three in Tamenglong district and five in Senapati district.

The names of the 13 candidates would be announced in a few day's time by the core committee and consultative committee constituted by representatives of leading Naga civil society organisations including the UNC, ANSAM, Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights etc, Paul added.

A manifesto drafting committee has been formed for the purpose, the UNC chief informed adding that once the names are announced by the two panels a full fledged campaign would be rolled out under the UNC's aegis.

He also conveyed that leaders of Nagaland-based Naga Hoho and Naga Students' Federation having accepted in-principal to join the UNC campaign would be arriving most probably on January 22.Paul also affirmed that there would be no hard-feeling amongst all the intending candidates when names of the 13 individuals are announced as they have all come out to work for the Naga integration issue, which is a birthright of the Nagas.