The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Legislature Party today said that it was unanimously decided that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as the state needed him more.
"At this juncture the state is more important than Delhi and also the state needs him more, so therefore we have decided not to send him to Delhi," Parliamentary Affairs minister Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu and Health, Family Welfare minister Imkong L Imchen told a hurriedly-called press conference here after a closed door meeting between NPF and DAN partners NPF, BJP and JD(U).
They said "It was unanimously decided not to allow Rio to contest the parliamentary elections."
Imchen said, "DAN legislators are not willing to send him so he will have to continue as the Nagaland chief minister.
"We cannot spare him and we are firmly decided to approach him not to leave state politics," they said, adding that the NPF-led DAN was apprehensive about a leadership crisis if Rio left state politics.
Azo said of late there was a rumour about the three time chief minister leaving state politics and joining national politics in the Lok Sabha elections.
Rio during an interview with a Delhi-based reporter last month had expressed willingness to join mainstream politics in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu supported the DAN legislators saying that it was they who elected Rio to be the chief minister and since they have now decided not to send him to Delhi, it should be accepted.
State BJP president Dr M Chuba and JD(U) president Mhonjan also spoke in support of the decision by DAN legislators.
