Its official now, Rio to be DAN candidate for LS
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agencies / NNN

Kohima, February 20 2014 : Putting an end to the seven-month speculations over Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio joining National politics, he has been finally chosen today as the consensus candidate of the ruling coalition Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) for the lone Lok Sabha seat of the state.

DAN is made up of Naga People's Front (NPF), BJP and JD(U) with NPF as the prime constituent.

Briefing media persons after a closed door meeting of the DAN Coordination Committee (DANCC) meeting held at NPF central office here on Thursday, DANCC chairman Shurhozolie Liezietsu said DAN partners have unanimously decided to accept Rio as the consensus candidate.

He said following the approval of the NPF Working Committee to clear the candidature of Rio yesterday, the DAN Coordination Committee on Thursday held the final sitting endorsing the recommendation of the NPFWC.

"The DAN partners NPF, BJP and JD (U) are of the same opinion that Rio will be the right candidate to go to Delhi and represent the Naga people," said Shurhozelie, who is also the president of the regional party.

He said it has also been decided that the NPF will now approach other political parties, including the Opposition Congress and Independent MLAs to come in line with the decision of DANCC.

NCP is not a pre-poll partner of the NPF, but it is extending outside support to the government in the 60-member state Assembly while the Independent MLAs are also with NPF.

However, on the remarks of the state Congress president SI Jamir that if a consensus candidate is to send Delhi then there has to be meeting of all the political parties, Shurhozolie said "I will approach and request them to accept the consensus because Nagaland has only one seat and whoever goes will represent the Naga people and it will have greater impact in Delhi" .

Asked whether sending Rio would hamper the party government in the state, he replied in negative stating that "even if Rio goes another leader will take over and we will see that the transition is smooth" .

BJP Nagaland Unit president M Chuba and state unit JD(U) president Mhonjan Lotha also talked on similar lines expressing even as they were contemplating to field own candidate but now with the approval of the national leaders they have decided to support Rio as the consensus candidate of DAN.

Meanwhile, talking to Newmai News Network, Abu Metha, an NPF leader, is quoted to have said, "We are very happy that our alliance partners, BJP and JD-U, have decided not to put up their respective candidate" .

Neiphiu Rio became the Chief Minister of Nagaland in 2003 after he led the NPF-led DAN to sweep the Nagaland Assembly elections.

He was the leader of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Party under the Chief Ministership of SC Jamir.

He even held the portfolio of Home and was considered the 'number two' man after SC Jamir.

But he quit the Congress party to revive the then defunct NPF in 2002.Ever since, there has been no looking back for Rio.

Under his charismatic leadership, the DAN alliance won the Nagaland Assembly elections for three straight terms and Rio has been in the saddle of the Chief Minister without any opposition.

It may be recalled here the speculations over Neiphiu Rio joining the National politics have been doing the round ever since the National paper, The Telegraph carried a report last year.

On August 2, 2013, Neiphiu Rio told the National daily in New Delhi, "We are still discussing it within the party but I would like to come to New Delhi" .

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