Kohima, March 19: All speculations have been put to rest now as the BJP central leadership has recommended the name of State BJP Mahila Morcha president S. Phangnon Konyak as the BJP candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Phangnon’s name was among four individuals declared by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh.
After nearly five decades, Phangnon Konyak, will be the second Naga woman to represent the State in the parliament after Rano M Shaiza. Shaiza was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha in 1977.
Meanwhile, BJP Legislature Party Leader and deputy chief minister Y. Patton informed Nagaland Post that there were 11 applicants.
However, he said the party’s Central leadership after thorough examination and decided to recommend Phangnon, keeping in mind that there was no women representative from Nagaland after former MP late Rano M. Saiza.
As reported, NDPP leader and chief minister Neiphiu Rio, during the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, reportedly agreed in principle to support a BJP candidate in return for the support extended to the NDPP candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
Rio’s tweet on Friday was a clear indication that his party– NDPP, has also endorsed the decision of the Central BJP to nominate Phangnon as the RS candidate. Rio congratulated Phangnon “on being selected as the candidate for the biennial elections to the Council of States @RajyaSabha, from Nagaland. I wish you the best for the upcoming elections and for all your future endeavours.”
On behalf of the Govt. & the people of Nagaland, I thank @RajBhavanKohima for constituting the Governor’s Award. The awards given by the Hon'ble Governor provide a huge motivation for everyone to perform & excel. Congratulations & best wishes to the winners for future endeavours. pic.twitter.com/rlBnluNWjb
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) March 17, 2022
Also Read: Assam Congress names Ripun Bora as Rajya Sabha candidate
For the NPF, though a senior NPF leader and legislator had earlier informed Nagaland Post that since the party was now part of the UDA government, it would likely go by the UDA consensus candidate.
However, NPF was yet to take a call as the party’s Working Committee meeting held on March 18 endorsed the senior party functionaries to examine and coordinate with the NPF legislators wing whether or not to contest the poll. The decision will be made known soon, a senior NPF leader said.
