NPF eyes more Assembly seats via ADC polls
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 11 2020: The Naga People's Front (NPF) which occupies a key position in the incumbent BJP-led coalition Government is working to retain and further solidify its position in the next Government and the coming ADC elections will be the first significant step towards this.

Notably, NPF has four MLAs in the State Assembly with two as Ministers in the person of Forest Minister Awangbow Newmai and PHED Minister L Dikho.

An inside source informed that NPF has been working to secure more seats from Naga dominated areas in the next State Assembly election which is due in 2022 and the party is marching towards this goal starting from the ADC election which is likely to be held soon.

NPF firmly believes that it would be able to secure more than four Assembly seats in the next State Assembly election if the party wins majority of the ADC seats.

Chief Minister N Biren has already assured that election to the six ADCs would be held soon.

ATSUM as well as the ADC Chairmen have also been urging the Government to hold the ADC election as soon as possible.

Out of the 11 Naga dominated Assembly segments of Tengnoupal, Chandel, Phungyar, Ukhrul, Chingai, Karong, Mao, Tadubi, Tamei, Tamenglong and Nungba, NPF was able to win four seats in the last State Assembly election held in March 2017.24 Members of each of the six ADCs would be elected through voting which means 144 ADC Members would be elected through voting.

With the ADC election likely to be held soon, the NPF has been considering to field its candidates in at least 98 District Council Constituencies (DCCs), informed the source.

Confiding that the 98 candidates would be contesting from DCCs where the Nagas enjoy majority, the source exuded confidence that NPF would perform better in Naga dominated areas.

With the primary objective of securing a remarkable victory for NPF in the ADC election, NPF functionaries have started mobilising its women wing, youth wing and farmers wing at the grassroots level and they have started celebrating Advance Christmas with the masses, informed the source.

Even though NPF and BJP are partners of the Coalition Government, there is no question as yet of forging any pre-poll alliance or sharing seats between the two parties for the ADC election, added the source.

Comment