Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 3
While the BJP has ticked off Naga apex bodies and civil society organizations, it has been annoying its grassroots workers ever since elections were declared to Nagaland State. The BJP-NDPP alliance and seat sharing agreement was received with surprise as well as anger among the National party cadres today.
State Executive Member, Phamching Konyak, who took primary membership of the BJP in 1998, expressed his frustration over the decision.
While admitting that he was an intending candidate from Mon District, Konyak maintained that “grassroots voice has been neglected” during the selection as well as seat sharing process.
When central leaders came to Nagaland, they promised that BJP will contest from all constituencies, he said while speaking to The Morung Express. However, the BJP has gone in for a seat sharing alliance with the NDPP to increase its chances to form the next government rather than placate its grassroots workers who have worked hard to build the Saffron Party in Nagaland.
“Is it the Centre betraying Nagas or Nagas betraying Centre?” wondered Konyak. “Instead of bringing new changes, money power has been a big factor in deciding the candidates,” he alleged.
Both Konyak and another young party worker remained miffed that those who have done nothing for the party have been given tickets.
“The same person whom we were much against is contesting. Is it the change BJP is planning to bring about?” questioned Konyak referring to one of the candidates.
Another angry party worker asked, “Who are higher ups to decide for us? What do they in Delhi know about our people and which leaders we want?” Further, he said, “They should listen to people’s voice. The real party workers, working for 10-20 years, are not being given ticket—those who are coming from other parties are directly given tickets. The party will be wiped out from Nagaland and the North East in this way.”
Meanwhile, some of its state-level leaders wrote to party chief Amit Shah, expressing resentment against the pre-poll alliance with the newly-floated NDPP, reported the PTI on Saturday.
Sources in the Nagaland BJP said similar letters would be submitted to the central leadership by the presidents of the 11 district units of the party and its frontal organisations in the north-eastern state, it added.
