The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Sunday pledged its support to the Naga People’s Front (NPF) if elected in the 26-Aonglenden A/C by-election.
The development came a day after state chief minister Neiphiu Rio ridiculed the NPF for supporting Congress candidate K L Chishi for the coming Lok Sabha Elections terming it a ‘mockery’.
A decision to this effect was made known through a press statement issued by the press secretary of NPCC president, K Therie on Sunday.
Therie, in a press statement issued by his press secretary Keso Chakhesang, promised that ‘If elected, we will support the secular NPF force’.
Defending the NPF decision to support the Congress candidate, Therie stated that the decision has strengthened secular forces and their demand for removal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill .
Therie further stated that it also strengthens the ‘foremost important issue to carry forward the peace talks for a final solution’.
Terming the NPF support a sacrifice in the interest of secular forces, he added that it was magnanimous and above political boundaries.
He also added in the statement that if a Congress legislator is elected, that representative will be the ‘salt in the State Assembly curry’.
The battle, Therie stated, was between the ‘ideological forces of communal Hindutva versus secularism and the freedoms it offers and the fabric of unity in diversity’, according to reports.
According to the NPCC president, NPF and Congress were standing together to protect the Naga faith and identity and to carry the political negotiations forward for a solution at the earliest. He appealed to the NPF and like-minded political parties and thinkers, to work together in 26-Aolengden Assembly Constituency by-election.