Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 23
Backdropped by a 20-40 electoral seat sharing arrangement, the ruling NDPP and BJP partnership is likely headed for a major headache in 2 Dimapur-II Assembly Constituency. A former NDDP candidate from the constituency, Supu Jamir sounded the poll bugle on August 23 at a “welcoming programme” organised by the 2 Dimapur-II BJP Mandal.
Jamir, who shifted allegiance to the BJP, along with his supporters, exuded confidence that he will get the BJP ticket from the constituency now held by NPF-turned-NDPP MLA, Moatoshi Longkumer. He told his new party comrades that as per the seat-sharing arrangement, it should now be the turn of the BJP to contest from Dimapur-II, since the NDPP took the ticket in 2018.
Later, answering queries from the media, he said that he joined the BJP keeping in mind “the all round” development that a ruling national party can effect. He termed the scope and outlook of the regional parties as “a bit shallow” confined to “the four walls of the state.” “But when you focus on the national party, the horizon enlarges. When it enlarges, it means that we get more avenues. We may get more development activities,” he said.
On the off chance that he does not get the ticket, Jamir said, “I don’t have a second option for that. I am confident the BJP ticket will be given to me,” while adding that “grassroots connection” would eventually decide who gets the ticket.
He further claimed that realising the Nagaland Foothills Road also influenced his decision to join the BJP. The road project, envisioned to avoid the roads of Assam, is now almost ten years in the pipeline since earth-cutting began in December 2013.
As a core member of the forum that lobbied the state government to fund the project, he held that joining the ruling party at the Centre would provide the nationwide attention the Foothills Road Project deserves. While the earth moving works ensues, albeit, painstakingly slow, he informed that construction of the Doyang Bridge at Liphanyan is over with only the “wing wall” pending completion.
