NPF decides to resume ties with BJP ahead of Nagaland polls

The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) today decided to reinstate its ties with the BJP and also go to the February 27 assembly polls in Nagaland with T R Zeliang as its chief ministerial candidate, a party release said here.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Central Executive Council (CEC) of the NPF held today.
The NPF had severed ties with the BJP on July 18 last year but its central office-bearers had on January 15 referred the matter to the CEC.
The BJP had been in alliance of the NPF since 2003.
The NPF meeting, which was attended by Zeliang and party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu, said that the alliance was being reinstated "as desired by different sections of the people" and was "taken to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens at a time when there are misunderstandings from within the party", the release said.

It said considering the urgency to create a congenial atmosphere for the ongoing political dialogue between the Centre and the Naga organisations for the Naga political solution, the CEC resolved to maintain the earlier status of having an alliance with the BJP.
The committee also appealed to the NSCN(K) to "listen to the voice of the people", resume the ceasefire with the Centre and join the political dialogue.
The NPF CEC also endorsed a resolution of the Nagaland assembly on the solution to the Naga political issue before election which was adopted on December 15 last year.