Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 5
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Nagaland unit convener, Vanthungo Odyuo today said the NCP will be contesting in the forthcoming state assembly election due in 2018.
Addressing a press conference here at Dream Café, Odyuo was optimistic that the party would perform well and increase its tally of seats in the next state assembly election. Odyuo said the party will play important role in 2018 state assembly election and be part and parcel of the coalition government.
“We have a bright future,” he said adding that NCP national president Sharad Pawar and NCP national leaders had given assurance to support at least four to five party candidates in the forthcoming state assembly election.
In 2003, he said, the NCP made a debut in electoral politics of the state by fielding candidates at 7 constituencies but failed in all the constituencies.
In 2008 state assembly election, the NCP fielded candidates in 8 constituencies. Two candidates emerged victorious but after three years of being elected both deserted to join another party.
He said in the last assembly election of 2013, 15 candidates contested on NCP ticket where four emerged victorious but in June 2014 three them shifted allegiance to BJP while the other found accommodation in the NPF.
“Frequent defection and shifting of allegiance among the political leaders is perhaps a discouraging trend. It exhibits lack of respect to self, party principle and above all betraying the confidence of the electorates,” he said and appeal the electorate of Nagaland to discourage defection and horse-trading among the elected members “as such trends negates the very principle of political integrity.”
Elected leaders are expected to remain loyal to the party and the electorates. Shifting allegiance depending on political weather is an act of betrayal, he said. He also asserted that NCP shall always uphold its principle of democratic values and appealed the people of Nagaland to join NCP towards realizing goal of common welfare and for better and brighter days.
Odyuo, who was recently appointed as the convenor of the state unit by NCP national president Sharad Pawar said “I am prepared and determined with more zeal to rejuvenate the NCP in the state.”
He stated that NCP was formed on June 10, 1999 by the political stalwarts of the country chiefly, Sharad Pawar, late PA Sangma and Tariq Anwar along with strong patronage from supporters.
n the same year, NCP was formed in Nagaland state under Late KV Keditsu as the convener, who was also former Speaker, NLA and former minister.
He thanked NCP high command, particularly, Sharad Pawar, for appointing him as convener of NCP Nagaland state on June 10 last. He is the 10th person to occupy the post of convener or president of NCP Nagaland Unit.
Odyuo, who is also member of DAN Coordination Committee, also acknowledged the contribution rendered by the first and founding president late KV Keditsu and also all the successive presidents and past party functionaries. He also thanked former president Povotso Lohe.
