JD (U) says President’s Rule is not the solution

•    For election for solution 
•    Frontier state harmful to Naga unity
•    Says party is not into vote-buying
 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 7

The Janata Dal (United) said that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections should be held on schedule. “The party’s view is very clear that President’s Rule is not the solution. Instead the central government should bring solution before this election,” stated the JD (U)’s North East Incharge, Afaque Ahmad Khan at a press conference in Dimapur on January 7. 

Khan, addressed the press conference alongwith party colleague Aneel Prasad Hegde, Rajya Sabha Member from Bihar and the Nagaland unit of the JD (U). 

As opposed to President’s Rule being the answer, RS Member, Hegde said that the failure to resolve the Naga political issue has been at the root of political instability in Nagaland. “Its resolution is fundamental for lasting peace and prosperity of the Nagas,” he said, while holding the incumbent Government of India’s Interlocutor and his predecessor as also accountable for delaying the peace process and the anticipated solution. 

According to him, Nagaland has witnessed enough violence and the political parties, which are demanding President’s Rule, should desist from making statements that would “give handle to the anti democratic forces who want to prolong the unrest.” As a democratic socialist party, he said that the JD (U) is concerned with the lack of development in Nagaland and in particular, the eastern districts. 

With regard to the demand for a Frontier Nagaland state, he said that the party is of the opinion that it will be harmful to the consolidation of Naga unity. While stating that the party has always stood for the removal of “regional imbalances,” Hegde demanded of the Union government ensuring sufficient funding for the developing the eastern districts.  

The JD (U)’s ‘Election for solution’ stand is parallel to that of the BJP’s. Queried if it implies the JD (U) tying up with the BJP in Nagaland, Hegde responded in the negative, while stating that the mandate of the 2018 election was also ‘election for solution’ only that the anticipated solution has not happened. Nevertheless, he maintained that it not too late for resolving the Indo-Naga issue before the elections. 

Meanwhile, the demand for a pre-poll solution notwithstanding, the JD (U) has already started campaigning and is looking to tie up with likeminded parties for “pre-poll understanding.” But it was not specified with which bloc.  

The Secretary General of the party’s Nagaland unit, Kitoho S Rotokha confirmed his intention to contest from 5 Ghaspani II, which is presently held by the NDDP’s Zhaleo Rio. He said that he has felt the pulse of the people, who are in desperate need for change.  According to him, the vision of the JD (U) supremo, Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar is to unify the non-BJP parties in the country. 

One other member of the party, General Secretary, Imsumongba Pongen also confirmed his candidature from 4 Ghaspani I, which is held by the BJP’s N Jacob Zhimomi. “In this world nothing is permanent. People need change,” Pongen said, while stating that the people have given the mandate to Zhimomi twice already. 

As per the JD (U), it is targeting to contest in not less than 20 seats, an increase from the 13 seats it contested in 2018. 
Does the JDU believe that the candidates from Nagaland can win without vote-buying in Nagaland? To this, Hegde responded, “Our party has never resorted to buying votes.”