Neiphiu Rio

Tening (Peren), Sept. 25: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has played the regional card to the hilt ahead of the October 13 bypoll in the state, distancing himself from national parties, including his ally, the BJP.

Speaking at an election rally here yesterday, Rio said both the BJP and the Congress could not muster enough numbers to gain power in Delhi and had to take the support of regional parties, which are the deciding factors in the current political scenario in the country.

?We (the regional parties) are gold and silver,? Rio, who was the home minister in Congress strongman S.C. Jamir?s government till a year and a half ago, said. Rio had resigned from the Congress months before Assembly elections in February 2003 and became an associate member of the regional party, the Nagaland People?s Front (NPF), to oust Jamir.

Rio had begun his political career as a youth leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1974. The symbol of the UDF, the rooster, was retained by the NPF even as the nomenclature of the party changed over the years.

The NPF now leads the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government. ?I was born in a regional party and my association with the symbol is 30 years old,? Rio said, speaking in Nagamese.

The chief minister was canvassing for NPF?s candidate from the Tening constituency, Tarie Zeliang. Rio said the NPF was a party of the people fighting for ?Naga identity?.

Nagaland minister for education Sh?rhozelie Liezietsu was also present on the occasion. BJP?s D. Abraham is also contesting from Tening besides Wizabo Zeliang of the Congress. Another Independent candidate is also in the fray. Tening was the Assembly constituency of T.R. Zeliang, present Rajya Sabha member. Zeliang also spoke on the occasion.