K L Chishi is Congress' candidate for Nagaland LS seat

The Congress Saturday announced that former chief minister K L Chishi would be its candidate for Nagaland's lone Lok Sabha seat.

Chishi, who served briefly as chief minister of Nagaland in 1990, had quit the Congress to join the BJP. Chishi contested the 2018 state elections unsuccessfully as BJP candidate from Atoizu A/C under Zunheboto district.

Chishi returned to the Congress' fold recently and said, I have rejoined Congress since my heart and spirit could never be separated from the party that has been the true epitome of secularism and upholding the sanctity of the Indian Constitution".

The Congress also announced that Alemjongshi Longkumer, a former state bureaucrat, would contest the byelection from the 26-Aonglenden Assembly constituency seat in Nagaland.

Announcing the candidates for both the elections, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary G K Zhimomi said that their candidature was approved by the Central Election Committee of the All India Congress Committee.

The announcement was made late last night, he said.

Zhimomi said that the ticket distribution would be held on Wednesday in Dimapur.

The only opposition in the state Assembly Naga Peoples Front - is yet to declare its candidates for the two elections but has informed that party tickets would be distributed along with tickets for Manipur Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday in Kohima.

The ruling People's Democratic Alliance has distributed tickets for both the elections to sitting BJP-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Alliance (NDPP) MP Tokheho Yepthomi for the parliamentary seat and Shiraingain Longkumer for the Assembly seat.

Independent candidate O Tinujungshi Longkumer, brother of late Imtikumzuk Longkumer, who was the NDPP legislator of Assembly segment, has also declared to contest the bypoll as Independent candidate.

Nominations for both the seats will open and conclude on March 18 while the poll will be held on April 11.