Stge set for NCP-NDM merger

KOHIMA, August 26: The stage is set for the merger of two regional political parties of Nagaland - the Nagaland People's Council (NPC) and the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), according to senior leaders of both the parties. The NPC and NDM have jointly put up Shurhozelie as their common candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state and released a joint manifesto on Wednesday at Dimapur. Talking to newspersons after releasing the manifesto, the party leaders expressed their desire to merge to form a viable regional party. The leaders present were NDM president Hokishe Sema, working presidents Tiameren and Chingwang, NPC general secretary Chubatemjen and the common Independent candidate Shurhozelie, among others. The joint manifesto of the NPC and NDM pledged to work ceaselessly for peace and stressed the need for political will and wisdom in bringing a lasting solution to the Naga political problem. It called for a new and healthy socio-economic order for the people of the state in the 21st century. It also promised to work for the unity and integrity of Nagas, pledged to lift the Disturbed Areas Act from the state and the ban on National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). Maintaining that the ensuing Lok Sabha polls as very crucial "as it will be a fight between corrupt anti-Naga party versus the people of Nagaland", the manifesto vowed to draw the attention of the Centre to the negligence of the state and pursue a CBI inquiry into the gross financial mismanagement of the present state government.