Former Nagaland CM to contest two seats

Former Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, whose Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, a non-Congress coalition, was dismissed a couple of weeks before the Election Commission announced its schedule for the state Assembly elections, is likely to contest from one more constituency in addition to Northern Angami II LAC which he had won in 2003.

Rio’s Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) has, meanwhile, announced its first list of 53 candidates for the 60-member Assembly, election to which is scheduled for March 5. The nomination process in Nagaland begins on February 9. The party is likely to announce the names of candidates for the remaining seven constituencies later this week.

Rio, whose name figures in the first list of candidates for Northern Angami II LAC, is also likely to file his nomination for the Dimapur II constituency. NPF chief Shurhozelie Liezietsu is seeking re-election from Northern Angami I adjoining Rio’s home constituency.

The BJP, which was a constituent of the DAN government headed by NPF, has released a list of 13 candidates.