MPs in fray
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, January 30 2013: Sitting Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland C M Chang and the State sitting Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi are contesting in the ensuing Nagaland Assembly elections on the Naga People's Front (NPF) ticket.

The names of the two Members of Parliament from Nagaland have been announced by the NPF.

Both the MPs have one year each left to complete their tenure.

Sitting Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi has been fielded by the NPF in the Ghaspani-1 Assembly Constituency while Lok Sabha MP CM Chang is contesting from Noksen assembly constituency.

Meanwhile, sources from the Congress party said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, vice president of AICC Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Home minister Shushil Kumar Shinde and chief ministers from the neighbouring Congress ruled states are coming to Nagaland next month.

For the BJP, reports said all the chief ministers from the BJP ruled states will be campaigning in Nagaland for the February 23 assembly polls.

Meanwhile, the tempo of election campaigns in Nagaland is still lukewarm.

In the past various assembly polls in the state, by this time campaigns would be in the near peak.

Giving reasons for the low key campaignings, The Morung Express editor Along Longkumer said there have been numerous factors for the low-key campaignings in the state though the poll date is just 23 days away.

Along Longkumer said that everyone in the state was expecting that the Indo-Naga settlement would be arrived at and the assembly elections would be deferred but "suddenly the Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced the poll date and from the the political parties have started putting their balls roll and that "these political parties are still in the process of deciding the names of candidates." The NPF had just completed in announcing its candidates' names just only today.

The Morung Express editor then said the 'clean election campaign' spearheaded by Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) could also be another reason why things are looking cold at the moment.

However, Along Longkumer said that the tempo of the poll campaigning will be in its peak in the next few days' time.

Nagaland Post editor Geoffrey Yaden said it is hard to pin-point the factors for the low-key campaigning in Nagaland this time.

He however said that it could be the strict guidelines laid by the ECI that campaigning is yet to see its best.

The Nagaland Post editor also attributed this state of affairs to the 'clean poll campaign' by the Church.

He, however said there are several factors but declined to comment on it.

Senior journalist Pradeep Pareek observed that confusion by intending candidates on party tickets is one reason why low-key poll campaign is witnessed this time.

Pradeep Pareek also said that after February 8, the real election fun will be seen the state.

Reason? The senior journalist said that after the scrutiny the candidates will go back to their respective constituency and blow up their energy.

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