SENAPATI, Janaury 2 (agencies): Naga People’s Front(NPF) president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsü said the forthcoming assembly elections in Manipur in January 2012 would be a referendum on whether Nagas live united as a family.
Speaking at an interaction with various tribal hohos and United Naga Council(UNC) at the NPF Manipur unit office here today, Dr Shürhozelie,who is also Nagaland minister of Urban Development and Higher & Technical Education said no one could stop Nagas from living together and reminded that the forthcoming assembly election was an opportunity for Nagas in Manipur to decide.
He asserted that NPF was for good relationship with various communities, political parties and organsations both underground and overground but asserted that no one would be allowed to dictate terms upon Nagas. Dr Shürhozelie revealed that the main purpose of the NPF was to defeat incumbent Okram Ibobi Singh.
He urged all Naga organizations and church to support NPF candidates in the forthcoming polls.
He said NPF in Manipur has received applications from candidates for 14 assembly seats while there was no ticket aspirant from Kuki dominated areas. He however said NPF could make some seat adjustments with other political parties in Kuki dominated areas.
Earlier, speaking to 55 out of 56 NPF ticket aspirants at Taphou Naga village Senapati, the NPF president said the party would contest the polls in Manipur for the first time and expressed the hope that voters would make wise decision.
He said NPF was the oldest regional party in the region and the only one out of 700 recognised political parties which Nagas need to be proud of. Dr. Shürhozelie said the entry of NPF to Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh was in the light of the four resolutions passed by the Nagaland assembly on the issue of integration of Naga inhabited areas.
He said out of Manipur total area of 22,327 sq Km , the ratio of land area of Nagas vis-à-vis Meteis was 9:1 and which has sparked fears among the latter.
He said there were 20 assembly seats in hill areas of Manipur and if all tribals unite they could become a tremendous force he said. Dr Shürhozelie asked other communities in the Hill areas of Manipur to seriously think about it as tribals could be a formidable force to exert their rights over Meitei domination.
Altogether 55 out of the total 56 aspiring candidates including two women who had applied for NPF party ticket from 14 different assembly constituencies of Manipur attended today’s function. All aspiring candidates made a public pledge to remain loyal to the NPF party’s ideologies and support those who would eventually get party tickets.