ITANAGAR, Aug 10 (PTI): The Arunachal Pradesh unit of the
Nationalist Peoples’ Party (NPP) on Thursday announced the
name of its first candidate for the assembly election due next
year.
NPP state president Thangwang Wangham told a press
conference here that the party’s general secretary and former
MLA Paknga Bage will contest from the Dumporijo seat in
Upper Subansiri district.
The NPP, a partner of the BJP-led government in Arunachal
Pradesh, has four MLAs in the 60-member assembly. The NPP is
also the major constituent of the ruling coalition of Meghalaya.
“Bage was chosen as the candidate of the party for his
performance as an MLA between 2014 and 2019, and his
dedication and high energy level to work for the people,”
Wangham said.
In the 2014 assembly polls, Bage won from the Dumporijo seat
as an independent candidate. He, however, was defeated in
2019 when he contested from the constituency as an NPP
nominee.
To a question why the party is in a hurry to announce Bage’s
name as its candidate, Wangham said the NPP wants to give
him ample time to do his groundwork in the constituency.
Asked when the names of other nominees will be announced,
the state NPP chief said that three committees of the party
related to the candidate selection process will soon hold a
meeting in this regard.
The NPP does not believe in money culture, Wangham said in
reply to a query.
Expressing gratitude to the party leaders for reposing faith in
him, Bage said that he would continue with his work in his
constituency.
