For the record: Manifestos of political parties for Nagaland election 2018

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 20

In view of the ensuing general election to 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2018 scheduled for February 27, different political parties have come out with election manifesto, announcing new initiatives and programmes. Bharatiya Janata Party  

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its manifesto assured to bring sweeping changes and all-round development in Nagaland based on the principle of ‘Sabke saath, sabke vikas’ (Together with all, development for all). The manifesto further stated BJP supports the early and lasting settlement of Naga political issue in full cognizance.  

Others highlights of the BJP manifesto are: Innovative constituency infrastructure development, Protection of all minorities, Special programme for senior citizens, Good roads for all, Housing for all, Health for all, Strengthening of organic farming, Adopting stringent anti-corruption measures, Strictly regulating foreign migrants, Adaptation to climate change, Employment for youth, Empowerment of women.  

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) promised to introduce MLA ‘Village Adoption Scheme’ within three months to facilitate strict implementation of flagship programmes and close monitoring of welfare policies.  

It also stated that Nagaland Smart Village Scheme will be introduced where village center panchayats will have internet connectivity, renewable energy projects promoted and clean sanitation programmes launched.  

“A smart village will have common facility centres in the villages, which will include information kiosk for public distribution schemes, shopping centre for village products and also multi-brand shops under PPP mode,” said the NDPP manifesto.  

It also stated that a scheme of village excursions will be set up for exposure trips and study tours for rural sections to visit places of interest within and outside the state.  

The foremost priority, the manifesto added, is to develop the rural sector and elevate the quality of lives of all rural citizens especially to arrest the migration from rural areas. It stated that a sustainable rural population with stable economy and gainful local employment is the objective of the party.  

The manifesto noted that the party will oppose any action or symbol that promotes VIP culture in “our society.”  

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) assured to implement the “unimplemented points of the 16-Point Agreement of 1960 between the Government of India and the Naga People’s Convention.” It also pledged to take various steps to curb the rampant electoral malpractices and corruption.  

The NPCC manifesto also promised to facilitate and enable women by providing greater participation through its “commitment to 33% women reservation.”  

For the Eastern Nagaland areas, it came up with a Special Economic Development Plan, a separate Mini-Secretariat under which Special Development Board shall be set up, with all schools from Primary to Middle level in the region receiving special attention for infrastructure development.  

The Congress government shall provide “All-Weather Roads connected to all District HQs,” its manifesto stated. It further assured to “augment urgent power supply” through thermal and solar power station.  

NPCC pledged to “clean up the mess in Education Department within 1 year” and also upgrade government hospitals in two years and make a cashless healthcare scheme available to all families. It also hoped to establish small industries/agro based industries.  

While promising to “remove backdoor appointments, nepotism and bias,” Congress Government shall “streamline to provide free and fair recruitment system by reviewing department service selection boards and NPSC,” it added.  

Naga People’s Front

Naga People’s Front (NPF) promised rectification of imbalances in development and give special focus on development of backward areas.  

Over the years, it stated, development programmes and projects have mostly taken place in the state without much of a cohesive or integrated perspective view.  

“It is unfortunate that allied sectors in the government dealing with similar or common objectives got fragmented and their development programmes tended to get disconnected. There was hardly any strategic or integrated approach in creation of infrastructures in the state. Such haphazard ways of undertaking development programmes were to a great extent responsible for creating area or regional imbalances within the state,” the manifesto said.  

It also stated that projects and schemes of the government that are ongoing and incomplete will be identified and appropriate steps will be taken to complete them within specific timeframe.  

“We consider laying of adequate and efficient basic infrastructure all over the state as the most critical parameter within which we can build a prosperous Nagaland. Without adequacy in this basic factor we can never grow to our full potentials as a people and as a state,” it added.  

National People’s Party

National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland in its election manifesto stated the party is well aware of the existing deplorable road conditions in the state and promised to work earnestly for improvement of the roads on a war footing.  

The party stated it also plans to initiate projects of bordering road from Tizit to Pangsa International Trade Centre via Longwa International Trade Centre via Aboi, Monyakshu, Noklak and Pangsa International Trade Centre to Avakhu International Trade Centre via Noku, Wazuku.  

“The party will also pressurize the National Highways Authority of India and the Border Roads Organization to early completion of the four–lane highway and also to repair and maintain the existing border roads in the state so that commuters across the state would not have to suffer unduly,” it stated.  

The NPP also said that it seeks for more and adequate representation of Nagas in the Indian Parliament as MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at par with other Indian states. As such, NPP will pressurize the central government to allot additional seats in both Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha, it assured.