BJP announces list of 20 candidates for Nagaland Assembly elections

BJP on Saturday announced the list of 20 candidates to contest the February 27 Nagaland Assembly elections.

The BJP has dumped its 15-year-old alliance partner, the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF).

A decision to this effect was taken in New Delhi yesterday at a meeting between BJP president Amit Shah and Rio in the presence of BJP's Nagaland president Visasolie Lhoungu, the party's state media cell convener, K James Vizo said here today.

He said the NDPP would contest 40 of the 60 seats in the state assembly while the BJP would field candidates in the remain 20 seats. The BJP is the only party till date to announce that it will contest the election.

The BJP has selected a woman candidate Rakhila to contest from Tuensang Sadar II Assembly constituency. Rakhila contested 2013 Assembly election on BJP ticket from the same constituency unsuccessfully.

The BJP-NDPP alliance has come as a major setback to ruling NPF which had also been trying to stitch electoral ties with the saffron party. Before forging the alliance with NDPP, the BJP said it would contest in 35 seats and was prepared to give "friendly contest" to the NPF and other political parties in the remaining seats.

OneIndia News