DAN endorses Khekiho for RS poll

Kohima, Jun 15: Former Nagaland Industry Minister Khekiho Zhimomi, who was selected as the Rajya Sabha candidate of the Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF), has been endorsed as the consensus candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN).

NPF sources said here today that Mr Khekiho was selected by the NPF, the major coalition partner of the DAN government.

However, he had not been given the ticket till the formalities with the other coalition partners were over.

A meeting of all coalition partners of the DAN was convened at the State Banquet Hall here, where all the political parties endorsed Mr Khekiho as the consensus candidate.

The sources said there were about 19 aspirants for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, for which the election is scheduled on June 26.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said Mr Khekiho was chosen after a tough selection process and expressed his gratitude to the members of the BJP, NCP and Independents in the DAN coalition for endorsing Mr Khekiho's candidature.

NPF president Shurhozelie, Forest Minister M C Konyak (BJP), Agriculture Minister Dr Chumben Murry (NCP) and PHED Minister Dr Nganshi (Independent) also spoke in the meeting, the sources added.

UNI