DIMAPUR, February 3 (NNN): It is almost official now that Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll from the lone Nagaland seat.
Sources said today that it is no more a speculation regarding Rio contesting the Lok Sabha election.
An NPF leader in Dimapur who did not want to be identified confided to Newmai News Network that since Neiphiu Rio is determined to contest the Lok Sabha election, the party this time has decided to give a go-ahead signal.
However, to confirm it officially was not possible today as the chief minister and some Naga legislators along with his media advisor were on an official tour of Myanmar on an invitation by the Myanmar government.
Last year, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) of which the NPF is a prime constituent, had requested Neiphiu Rio to continue `leading the state government`.
Meanwhile, sources said Rio`s calculation appears that in the event of the NDA coming to power in the centre, he is bound to get a `dignified reciprocation` from the BJP as he has fiercely finished the Congress party honey-moon in Nagaland.
NPF is enjoying a superb rapport with the BJP.
It is worth recalling here that the speculations of Neiphiu Rio joining the national politics have been doing the round ever since The Telegraph daily made a report about it on August 2 last year.
On August 2, Neiphiu Rio had told a national daily in New Delhi, “We are still discussing it within the party but I would like to come to New Delhi,” hinting to shift his base of politics from Nagaland to the national capital.