BJP National Spokesperson & incharge of Nagaland, Nalin Kohli alongwith Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton and Union Minister of State, John Barla address a press conference in Dimapur on February 15. (Morung Photo)
Dy CM says NDPP-BJP needs no support of smaller parties
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 15
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today reiterated that its alliance with the NDPP is strong and that there should be no confusion on the 40-20 seat-sharing deal. Candidates contesting from either party's seats are the joint candidates of the alliance, the BJP's National Spokesperson & Incharge of Nagaland Nalin Kohli told a press conference in Dimapur on February 15.
He jointly addressed the press conference with Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla, who is in Nagaland campaigning for the BJP-NDPP combine.
According to Kohli, the BJP leaders campaigned at three constituencies, on February 15, where the BJP has candidates. He also dispelled what he said was “confusion” allegedly created by rebel BJP candidates, now contesting from other parties, but claiming to have the support of the NDPP. “This is false. I said this in Noklak (today) that H Haying is the candidate for the BJP and the NDPP and there is no other candidate. I made this clear in my address there because certain vested political interests are trying to win votes (by claiming to be in alliance with NDPP).”
Patton was confident of the NDPP-BJP alliance getting a comfortable majority. While claiming that the alliance would receive a thumping majority in the upcoming election, he said they would not require the support of smaller parties to form the government. He added that he would not want a replay of the instability that was seen during DAN III, where there were crises after crisis in the government. “I don't want to go again to Kaziranga,” he quipped. According to him, so many development activities have taken place under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 5 years since 2018, besides the partial revoking of AFSPA.
MoS Barla also shared his campaigning experience. According to Barla, he observed huge gatherings, in the six constituencies where he campaigned, which showed that the people of Nagaland accepted the BJP and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Barla added that the people of Nagaland want development and believe in the PM's Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Together with all, development for all) vision and the leadership of Neiphiu Rio as CM and Y Patton as Deputy CM. He added that Modi's leadership has brought unity and development, and that with Modi, anything is possible.
Queried on the Guwahati-based Janjati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch's (JDSSM) demand for 'delisting' of tribal Christians, he said, “They are spreading rumour. I am the bridge of our (Christian) community. The Congress has no other agenda besides bringing up the Hindu-Christian issue.”
Kohli further informed that Barla was a pastor before he joined politics. According to Kohli, Barla used to work with the poor, while earning Rs 5000 a month, before he went on to become a Member of Parliament.
He also reiterated his comment on the JDSSM demand. “It is not the BJP agenda. We stand for the Constitution,” he said. “They maybe an organisation, they may be working somewhere, I don't know. I have not been in a single meeting and never been in any discussion where the BJP may have entertained such a thought.
The Congress only fabricates stories to attack the BJP. They have no agenda of their own. They have been struggling for many decades to find a strong leader, so they have a leadership crisis, agenda crisis. But that is their issue,” he added.
The BJP leaders went to three places to campaign - 59 Seyochung-Sitimi constituency to campaign for V Kashiho Sangtam, 56 Noklak to campaign for H Haiying, and 53 Tuensang Sadar-I to campaign for Bashangmongba Chang.
