Following the mass resignation of Naga People’s Front (NPF) officials and members from the 43 Tapi Assembly Constituency (AC) unit very recently, Wanglem Konyak, one of the resigning members, officially joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and has been declared as the INC candidate for the 43 Tapi AC bye-election.
Wanglem Konyak previously contested as an NPF candidate in the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Election 2023, where he narrowly lost by a margin of just 82 votes. Today, he and his supporters made the transition to the INC, marking a pivotal moment in their political journey. The INC warmly welcomed Wanglem Konyak and his team at Congress Bhavan in Kohima, where NPCC President S Supongmeren Jamir and other party leaders were present to receive them.
In the backdrop of these political shifts, speculations are doing the rounds that the NPF is on the verge of a significant transformation, starting with its presidency. It has been rumored that Apong Pongener, a long time regionalist and the Working President of the NPF, may be set to replace Dr Shurhozelie, who has held the position of president for two decades.
The resignations and the entry of Wanglem Konyak into the INC signal an interesting political dynamic as Nagaland approaches the bye-election in the 43 Tapi Assembly Constituency scheduled for 7 November.