NPF decides for 'conscience voting' on Presidential polls

Kohima, Jul 09 (UNI) The gap among the coalition partners of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is gradually widening in Nagaland following the decision of the Nagaland Peoples Party (NPF) to go for 'conscience voting' in the Presidential election on July 19 next.

The DAN coalition came to power defeating decade old Congress regime in Nagaland in February, 2003 with the coalition partners of NPF, BJP, JD(U), Samata Party and Independents to form the DAN Government in the state in support of the then NDA Government in the Centre led by Atal Behari Vajpayee.

But when UPA came to power in the Centre, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reportedly wanted to join the Congress, which was rejected by the state Congress leaders. But as a former Congressman and Home Minister in the S C Jamir led Congress Ministry, Rio still has a soft corner for the Congress.

Moreover, the UPA reportedly approached Chief Minister Rio and NPF President and Urban Development Minister Shurhozelie seeking their support and votes in favour of its candidates Pratibha Patil, while the NDA had sought the support of DAN allies for its candidate Shekhawat.

The NPF did not want a confrontation with its alliance partners, including the BJP, and decided to go for 'conscience voting' in the Presidential elections. The Nagaland unit of BJP requested that as an anti-Congress government, the DAN coalition should support the NDA sponsored candidate, but time will say what results could be borne out of this conscience voting.

UNI