NPF pulls out of Arunachal polls 

Kohima, Sep 23 : The Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF), which had decided to participate in the Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, scheduled on October 13, has pulled out from the election scene of that state following the rejection of Election Commission of India (ECI). 

According to a statement issued by secretary general of NPF KG Kenye here today, the decision of pulling out from Arunachal Pradesh election was taken by the Executive Committee of the NPF after a threadbare discussion at its central office here yesterday following the ECI not granting approval to the party to contest the coming Arunachal Pradesh election. 

He said the decision had been necessitated following the delay of the ECI in approving the change in nomenclature of the party from Nagaland Peoples Front to Naga Peoples Front to contest Assembly elections in other parts of the North Eastern Region. 

He also blamed the ECI on the issue and said the party had to withdraw because of the ''ill-conceived motive'' of the ECI and paucity of time in filing nominations. 

He further stressed that the withdrawal from the elections was not because the party was demoralised or due to any threat. It revealed that the party had formally applied for the change of nomenclature with the ECI during early August this year, but the approval for which was not given till date.