Newly appointed NPF Leader of the Legislature Wing, MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu addresses party worker after taking charge in Kohima on May 3. (Photo: NPF Press Bureau)
• Says will carry forward aspiration and voice of Naga people
• With clean house, NPF will start afresh, asserts Dr Ngangshi
Kohima, May 3 (MexN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) is not adverse to any political parties or leaders and will carry forward the aspiration and voice of the Naga people, stated MLA Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, taking the helm as the new Leader of the Legislature Wing of the party on May 3.
Seek and take God first and carry forward the party, he urged the members, addressing a felicitation programme organised for him and the new Chief Whip of the party to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Dr Nganshi K Ao at the NPF Central Headquarters, Kohima on Tuesday.
Both were appointed recently after 21 legislators from NPF ‘merged/defected’ to the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on April 29.
Taking charge of the office, Azo stressed on the need for humility and called upon the party workers to be united and work together, informed a statement issued by the NPF Press Bureau.
While dwelling upon the 21 MLAs 'defection', he said that it was indeed a shocking but not a new programme for them to shift their loyalty, maintaining that though the timing was not known, it was “on expected line.”
However, he expressed his optimism that with the remaining MLAs, party leaders and workers, the NPF will make many new changes and reach to greater heights, the statement said.
He also called for fresh ideas and new thoughts for the upliftment of the party and asserted that under his leadership, he will give his best for the service of the people and the NPF, it added.
‘Blessing in disguise’: Dr Nganshi
Meanwhile, as per the statement, the new Chief Whip, MLA Dr Nganshi termed the “recent development of the defection as ‘Blessing in disguise’ for the party.”
With clean house, the NPF will start afresh for a better politics and do justice for the people of Nagaland, he noted, reportedly adding that “Politics is clean, yet, we play politics dirty.”
To this end, he noted that the the party should be careful while allotting the party tickets for the election.
Dr Nganshi also urged upon the party workers that with the recent development,Terming the recent development “not the end” of the NPF, Dr Nganshi urged upon the party workers to work together to march forward saying that the NPF is the “right platform for the Naga people.”
He also called on members to speak ill about anything, though time maybe “desperate.”
Chairing the event, the NFP Secretary General, Achumbemo Kikon called for fullest support and upholding the newly elected Leaders of the party and together restore back the NPF into better prospect.
He also stressed the need to focus more on positive sides and work for the upliftment of the party, the statement said.
Working President, Apong Pongener who also spoke on the occasion maintained that the defections is not a new experience for the party, but the party has overcome all the crisis due to the firm stand of the party, it added.
“Together we can fight any win that blows against the party,” he further challenged the members.
Rev Dr Vevo Phesao who invokes God’s blessing to the newly appointed leaders exhorted the gathering to have hopes through God and seek Lord and also asked the party to be humble and thoroughly seek God and govern with God’s wisdom and rest our hopes in God.
While doing politics, he called upon the party not to “compromise our faiths and rights but with conviction through God, we can progress in any field,” the statement added.
NPF Kohima lauds new appointees
Meanwhile, the NPF Kohima Division has congratulated Azo and Dr Dr Ngangshi on their new appointments.
In a press release, the division also regretted that though NPF has the largest MLAs in the 13th NLA with 25 members, 21 defected to NDPP.
However, the Kohima Division is fully intact and prepared for any eventuality, it stated further asserting that it would 'never be weakened with their defection whatsoever.'
The division also reaffirmed its fullest support the leadership of President, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, Leader of the Legislature Wing, Azo, MLA Khriehu Liezietsu and all the other Party MLAs and party leaders.
It also also called upon the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio to uphold the true spirit of NPF Alliance partner in the UDA Government and asked the Chief Minister to revert back the UDA Chairmanship and the Ministerial Berth to the NPF MLAs, as both the MLAs who were awarded earlier have left the NPF party.
The division also expressed optimism that under the initiatives of the UDA Government, the ‘Naga political problem will soon arrive at some logical and acceptable solution.’
