Diatribe galore as electioneering chugs along in Nagaland

Zeliang blasts Rio at Mon campaign trail

MON, FEBRUARY 20 (MExN): Diatribe flows in profusion as electioneering for the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections chugs along the rutted roads and mal-developed terrain of Nagaland wooing the electorate once again. Former comrades, now foes – Chief Minister TR Zeliang and Lok Sabha Member Neiphiu Rio appear to be relishing the electioneering in particular, using their respective campaign platforms for spewing venom against each other.  

It was the turn of CM Zeliang, campaigning in Mon on February 20, to train his gun at Rio. The NPF Press Bureau in a press release said that Zeliang blasted Rio, accusing the latter of steering the state into financial deficit. The NPF release said that Zeliang, who campaigned at Mon town, Aboi and Longwa today, further termed the NDPP of which Rio is the Chief Ministerial candidate as a party “engaged in politics without agenda.”  

The release quoted Zeliang as stating that “it was Rio who had landed the State in a deficit of Rs. 1234 crores after which he left for Delhi.”   Rio, according to Zeliang, allegedly used government fund to build resorts, while the cost of constructing the Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Dimapur increased from Rs. 25cr to 75cr during his time as the Chief Minister. The Stadium, he alleged, was built on Rio’s own land “after purchasing it at a high cost.”  

With the regard to the controversy sorrounding their respective educational qualifications, Zeliang defended he had never produced any “fake certificate” and accused Rio of producing “fake BA Honours Certificate” in order to contest the Lok Sabha elections. “In the process, he (Rio) had forced others to lie for him,’ he alleged.  

In terms of development works, Zeliang said that Rio during his 11 years as CM declared Longwa, Pangsha and Avangkhu as International Trade Centres “without any road connectivity,” while allotting work projects “to his men where fund was drawn against half done works.” On the other hand, he claimed that the government under his guidance has “brought sanction for the same and work was in progress at present.”  

Taking the charge to the NDPP, Zeliang likened the party to an “un-recognised village” bearing a “global symbol and a nationalist name” while the least bothered about the Nagas.  

“The Manifesto of NDPP is TR Zeliang as Rio has been talking only about me and nothing more during his entire campaign across the State,” he said.  

Zeliang has not been free from criticism either. On different electoral campaigns, Rio, among others, has thrown jabs at the NPF camp. Rio, in his tirade against the NPF, has charged Zeliang and NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu of enjoying the ‘fruits of his labour’. The duo, Rio claimed, are enjoying “his fruits today because of his leadership and effort in reviving the NPF party in 2003.”  

For the last 4 years, TR Zeliang and Dr Shürhozelie ruled as CMs but no development was visible on the ground, he further claimed at a recent poll campaign.  

Besides the diatribe, the NPF release said that Zeliang made mention of various development activities, roads in particular, said to be taking place or starting to take place in Mon district. “Unlike other political parties, we are highlighting what is taking place and not what will take place,” the release quoted Zeliang as stating in the rallies today.