Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio’s Rally allegedly postponed due to low attendance

Kohima, March 29, 2019:

A public rally of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Tuensang was postponed on Friday after hardly 100 people turned up, as per sources. In a truly bizarre incident, the helicopter carrying the Chief Minister reached the spot, but left an hour or so later.

The crowd numbering 3,000 was expected to turn up for the rally and food had also been arranged for a feast. Later, the NDPP party sources claimed that 500 people had attended the rally, but local sources claim that the actual number is closer to 150.

Locals are allegedly angry with the PDA Government after opposition NPF MLAs allegedly “sold out” to the ruling party.

But now, it seems like there is a twist in the tale as the PDA Government has claimed that the rally was in fact postponed due to a snag in the helicopter and not due to low attendance as alleged by locals. An FIR has also been lodged by BJP General Secretary Sepongsem Sangtang and NDPP Vice President N. Imti Chang to the Tuensang SP to take action against "hacker/user" who posted the "damaging pictures and "write up" online.

[caption id="attachment_26679" align="alignnone" width="660"] The FIR[/caption]

In an interesting development just before the elections, the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate, O. Tinu Longkumer and Naga People Front (NPF) candidate, Toshipokba Longkumer, had been nominated to contest the ensuing Bye-election to the 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, have withdrawn their candidatures.