Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 6
Six former DMC Councillors and Advisors, one active party member – all from NPF and one Congressman resigned from their respective parties and joined BJP on Friday to contest the forthcoming civic body elections in DMC.
The six resigned NPF DMC Councillors and Advisors include Hokivi Chishi, T. Vikheho Zhimo, Hokuto Zhimomi, G. Kits, Yangertoshi, and Simon Yeptho. Another active NPF party worker, P. Avi Awomi also resigned from the party to contest the DMC elections from ward no. 6.
Dimapur Congress Treasurer and Youth Advisor, Moa Jamir also resigned from the party and joined BJP to contest DMC polls from ward no 16. Out of the eight leaders who joined BJP, five of them have filed nominations today.
The newly joined BJP members held a press conference in Dimapur on Friday. Speaking on behalf of the former DMC members of NPF, Hokivi Chishi said they did not join BJP because they were denied party tickets but because they wanted to work for the people. He said party tickets were denied to them for reasons best known to the party higher ups. Hokivi said likeminded leaders have joined BJP to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a transparent and accountable manner and thanked the BJP for accepting them under its party fold. “We are hopeful of taking over the DMC,” he added.
Hokuto Zhimomi who was also given NPF party ticket along with Pukhavi from ward no 22 said he has resigned from the party along with his supporters and decided to contest on BJP ticket. He said the NPF party lacks policies to uplift the grassroot people and that the party was filled with “misuse of power and self styled governance.” G. Kits said that the NPF party was “not a stable party.”
The six former DMC councillors and advisors in a joint statement said that “this likeminded front” was necessitated to provide a paradigm shift towards an alternative good governance to ensure that transparent and corruption-free governance can be a reality in the State.
They appealed all like-minded citizens who desire for change to join the cause to fight the anti-people forces and pave the way for change that will usher in an era of inclusive development.
In a separate statement handed out to the media, the office bearers (19 members) of NPF unit Ward no 19 led by its President, Kiyegho Aye informed about its decision to resign en-masse from the party for declining its recommendation to issue party ticket to former Vice President, NPF Dimapur Division, Hokivi Chishi.
Addressing media persons separately, BJP Convenor, Finance & Development Committee, HK Khulu informed that the party has filed eight nominations including two women on Friday for the DMC elections and that more nominations would be filed on Saturday. He said there was no pre-poll alliance with any party for the civic body elections but added that the DAN alliance at the state level remains the same.
He said that the civic body elections would be a “friendly contest” among the DAN alliance. Khulu said that the party has been boosted and encouraged by the joining of former NPF DMC Councillors and Advisors and other party members. He maintained that the party strength was growing by leaps and bounds.
Former Minister Kheto and other BJP leaders were also present at the press conference.
