Opposition party Naga People's Front (NPF) on Saturday announced to support former Chief Minister and Congress candidate K.L. Chishi in the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland which goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11.
Chishi, 75, the richest candidate in the state with movable and immovable assets worth Rs 36 crore, will fight against sitting MP Tokheho Yepthomi of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Hayithung Tungoe of the National People's Party (NPP) and Independent candidate M.M. Thromwa Konyak.
On Monday, seven rebel NPF legislators had extended their support to Yepthomi. Yepthomi is the consensus candidate of the ruling NDPP-led People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and an Independent member.
NPF President Shurhozelie Liezietsu said on Saturday that the party has decided to lend support to Congress candidate Chishi. The decision was only for the upcoming election, he said.
"The party has agreed to go back the secular forces' candidate (Congress). However, going together in the ensuing elections will not change the party's stand on regionalism, nor will it reflect NPF as an alliance partner with them," Liezietsu said.
--IANS
rrk/arm