PDA announces candidate for lone LS seat in Nagaland

The ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Nagaland Thursday announced its candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state. The candidate, Tokheho Yepthomi, is the sitting Lok Sabha member and a leader of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), a major constituent of the PDA.

The NDPP also announced the candidate for the by-election to Aonglenden Assembly constituency. Sharingain Longkumer, the consensus candidate of the PDA, would contest the by-poll.

It was necessitated by the passing away of Imtikumzuk, the sitting MLA, on September 22, 2018. Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat and the by-poll will be held on April 11.

The PDA comprises the NDPP, the BJP, the National People's Party, the Janata Dal (United) and Independents. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the PDA candidates need to win by a huge margin.

PDA chairman Chingwang Konyak, also the president of the NDPP, asked the alliance partners to work hard and not to be complacent. The opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) and the Congress are yet to declare their candidates.

Nominations for both the parliamentary constituency and the Assembly constituency will begin on March 18..