Kohima, April 29: The Congress and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) have intensified their campaign for the May 7 byelection to the Aonglenden Assembly.

But as the campaign reaches its peak, Congress high command’s representatives, who are projecting S.C. Jamir as the future chief minister, has generated discomfort among some of the party leaders here.

Jamir is contesting against NPF candidate Toshipokba Longkumer.

Union minister of state for planning and parliamentary affairs, science and technology Ashwani Kumar, who is in the state to campaign for the Congress candidate, urged people to elect Jamir as the chief minister.

But leader of the CLP, Tokheho Yepthomi, said the issue does not arise at this juncture. “That is not an issue,” he told The Telegraph.

However, Jamir said he was not contesting to become a chief minister but to work for the welfare of the people and contribute to the Naga peace process.

The NPF, the main constituent of the ruling DAN government, has asked Jamir to apologise for his booklet, The Bedrock of Naga Society, released in 2001.

But the Congress said the booklet was a closed chapter and criticised the NPF for raising an old issue.

NPF associate press secretary Shilumar Ao said the party had also intensified its campaign.

He said chief minister Neiphiu Rio would address a rally on May 4 at Mokokchung town hall. “We have constituted a two-tier election committee and accordingly, we are campaigning for our candidate,” Ao told The Telegraph.