ADC election BJP names 130 candidates, JD (U) 5, NPF 78
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03 2015 : Setting the ball rolling for the June 1 election to the Autonomous District Council, the State unit of the BJP has today announced the names of 130 candidates.

The JD (U) too has announced the name of five candidates in the first phase list of the party while the Naga Peoples' Front has named 78 candidates.

There are a total of 144 seats in the ADC.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that the BJP has named 24 candidates for Sadar Hills, 24 for Ukhrul, 21 for Churachandpur, 19 for Chandel, 19 for Senapati and 23 for Tamenglong.

The source further said that the BJP is yet to announce the names of 14 candidates which include five in Senapati, five in Chandel, three in Churachandpur and one in Tamenglong.

Elaborating, the source said that the party has not been able to name the candidates for the fourteen ADC seats since the intending candidates have taken the application forms but are yet to submit the same, for reasons which have not been officially spelt out.

NPF candidates for the ADC polls taking oath as members of the party

Sources said that threats have been issued against some intending BJP candidates in the past and this could be one reason for the delay in submitting the application forms.

To discuss the matter and future course of action to be taken up by the party, a high level meeting will be convened tomorrow, said the source.

Tapir Gao, executive member of the BJP, is set to arrive here tomorrow to attend the said meeting, said the source.

Meanwhile member of the State level election committee of the BJP, M Ashnikumar has appealed to all concerned not to interfere in the upcoming ADC election to make it a free and fair poll.

The State unit of the Janata Dal (U) too has issued the phase list of its candidate for the ensuing ADC election.

Speaking to media persons at its office today, State JD (U) president M Tombi announced the names of five candidates in the first phase list of the party.

The five candidates named are Limjalet Haokip for 18 Songjang, Chandel, Doujapao Lhungdim for 22 Sugnu, Chandel, Haokhomang Touthang for 24 Tolbung, Chandel, Julia Shinglai for 24 Nampashi, Ukhrul and Thongkholun Khongsai for 24 Bongbal Khullen, Sadar Hills.

M Tombi added that preparations are on to announce the second phase list of the candidates tomorrow.

So far 16 intending candidates have submitted their names seeking the party's ticket for the ADC polls.

The election symbol of the party is the arrow, said Tombi and urged the people to extend their support to the JD (U) to ensure development of the hills.

On the other hand, the Naga Peoples' Front (NPF) too has issued tickets to 78 candidates.

Two of them are women candidates.

The tickets were handed over by Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, president of NPF, at the ticket distribution ceremony held at NPF central office in Kohima.

In his address to the packed party gathering, mostly from Manipur, the NPF president claimed that NPF candidates are certain to win 8 to 10 seats uncontested in the forthcoming polls, adding that it was a "good beginning".

He also said that the party is expecting to capture some ADC bodies.

Dr Shurhozelie also said that the ADC election is the only platform where the rights of hill people are protected.

He clarified that the ADC polls are not only for the Nagas, but for the whole tribal people.

The NPF leader also said that the forthcoming ADC polls should be a springboard to the next elections, adding that "today we have four MLAs in Manipur Assembly but in the next Assembly we will have 10, 11, and 12 MLAs, and we will be in a better position to be part of Government formation in Manipur" .

The NPF president told the gathering that Congress, which is the ruling party in Manipur, would not come to power again.

"We will be a part of a coalition Government in Manipur," he asserted.

Admitting that the party had found difficulty in selecting the candidates, the president said that the NPF decided to contest 84 seats and therefore appealed to all, especially who did not get the ticket, to work together with the party candidates.

Claiming that NPF is the oldest regional political party in the North East, Dr Shurhozelie said that the NPF is a 52 year-old party.

He said that the party envisages the traditional moral values holding it in high esteem, preserve values and cultures, work for unity and interest of the people, work with work culture and dignity of labour.

Later in the programme, the NPF president handed over the tickets and administrated oath to the candidates.

Neiba Kronu, Parliamentary Secretary and Chairman Central Committee for Manipur State unit said that ADC polls are the most significant events as the Constitution of India under Article 3719 (C) gives special provision for the hill areas of Manipur.

He added that the forthcoming election is a very powerful set-up and once penetrated it can help the grassroot people.

He announced the various names of District Level Election Campaign Committees (DLECC) and further informed that a Minister from Nagaland will be the team leader of DLECC.

"Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang will officially kick-off the campaign on May 12 in Senapati district", Kronu informed.

NPF MLA from Manipur L Dikho Mao said that the ADC election in Manipur is an important political event.

He added that the party has geared up for the polls and is in a strong position in most of the seats at the moment.

Awangbou, president, NPF Manipur unit, informed that 194 people had applied for party tickets, with 78 names cleared by the Election Committee and another six to be cleared soon.