ECI report on NPF status tabled in House
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22 2011: For the second successive time, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and MPP legislature Wing leader O Joy Singh were locked on the status and ambit of the Naga People's Front (NPF) at the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

Even though the Chief Minister informed the House in the morning session that report from the Election Commission of India on his intimation with regard to the NPF's status is not yet received by late evening the ECI report was presented at the House.

The ECI report addressed to the Joint Secretary (Home) clearly pointed out that as a registered and recognised State political organisation, NPF setting up its Manipur unit office at Senapati is legitimate under election laws.

Further stating that there is no provision for the ECI to prohibit NPF from opening its unit offices, the ECI missive also conveyed that there had been regular correspondence between NPF and ECI.

Earlier, responding to a poser from the MPP legislator, the Chief Minister said the election Commission of India has been urged to assess whether the Nagalandbased NPF had violated its own constitution by setting up unit offices in Manipur.

Highlighting that the NPF constitution implies its jurisdiction limit to 60 Assembly segments and two Parliamentary constituencies, Ibobi said the ECI has been urged to examine whether NPF units recently opened in Manipur is self-contradictory to its own constitution.

As Joy persisted on what the ECI reply was, the CM said related information is being awaited as a special session of the ECI's full commission was on since 11 am today.

Further informing that an article of the NPF constitution had already been amended to incorporate protection of ethnic groups, Ibobi assured the House that all relevant information would be shared with members of the House as soon report of the ECI is received.

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