The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has rejected allegations by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president and Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir that the party was “poaching” elected members of Town and Municipal Councils.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NPF described the allegations as “baseless and misleading” and said it had not poached any elected member.
The party maintained that councillors who had joined or extended support to the NPF had done so voluntarily, citing their political choices and confidence in the party’s leadership and regional vision.
The NPF also challenged the Congress to provide evidence if it had any proof of coercion, inducement or unlawful activity, saying such matters should be placed before the appropriate authority.
The party further accused the Congress of undermining the independence of elected grassroots representatives by suggesting that councillors had moved for money or development projects. It said elected representatives had the right to make their own political choices while remaining accountable to the people who elected them.
The NPF reiterated its commitment to what it described as inclusive development and the empowerment of Town and Municipal Councils, and called for stability and unity in the functioning of local bodies.
The statement comes after Supongmeren alleged that elected members of Town and Municipal Councils were being “poached” by the NPF and questioned the impact of such political movement on the mandate of voters.
